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TO THE 



ARDENS AND VESTRY 



OP 



CHRIST CHURCH, CINCINNATI 5 



IN 



TO THEItt 

¥ DECLARATION AND PROTEST AGAINST THE PROCEEDINGS OP BISHOP 

HOBART, AND THE TRUSTEES OP THE GENERAL THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY OP THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN RELATION 

TO THE MISSION OF BISHOP CHASE TO 

ENGLAND." 



BY A PRESBYTER 

Of the Diocese of New- York. 




NEW-YORK: 

PRINTED BY T. AND J. SWORDS, 

No- 99 Pearl-street. 

1824, 



! 



A LETTER. &c. 



GENTLEMEN, 

ij Have lately received a pamphlet, signed by your Secre- 
-*- tary, and professing to be your " Declaration and Protest 
" against the Proceedings of Bishop Hobart, of New- York, 
" and the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary of 
" the Episcopal Church, in relation to the Mission of Bishop 
" Chase to England." In the absence of my Right Rev. Fa- 
ther, whose character and conduct I conceive to be so grossly 
misrepresented in that pamphlet, I tru3t I shall not be deemed 
presumptuous in soliciting your attention, and that of the 
public, before which your Declaration and Protest have been 
made, to an humble effort in his vindication. 

A difficulty, however, of great magnitude presents itself to 
my mind in the very commencement of the undertaking. I 
have ever been accustomed to hold in the most reverend 
estimation the office and character of a Christian Bishop ; 
and to deem it a religious duty to extend this regard, both in 
language and deportment, to those who hold that office. It 
is true, in that, as in the inferior grades of the ministry, we 
may be called to mourn over evidences that the treasure is 
held in earthen vessels, and that those to whom it is commit- 
ted, are men of like passions with others. When such evi- 
j dences present themselves, the first feeling, I have ever 
I thought, of true piety, is that of deep regret ; and its genuine 
I effort, to conceal them as much as may be, from public 
view; to extend, as far as possible, the charitable hope and 
; belief that there are circumstances of mitigation which will 
i detract much from the force of the evidence ; and to allow 
I these circumstances their full weight. 

Cases, however, do occur, in which the loud call of duty 

should be paramount to every other consideration, and re- 

j spect for office, and for person, be not, superseded, indeed, 

by a full and fair disclosure of the truth, but made entirely 

subservient to it 



4 

Such, I regret to be obliged to think, is the present case, 
You have thought proper to arraign our Bishop before the 
public, with charges deeply affecting both his official and in- 
dividual character. These charges all grow out of the line 
of conduct which he deemed it his duty to adopt in reference 
to certain measures pursued by your Bishop. In the pro- 
posed vindication, therefore, I am reduced to the painful al- 
ternative of canvassing those measures, and giving the rea- 
sons why I think the conduct of Bishop Hobart in this busi- 
ness perfectly correct, and therefore, the stand which you 
have taken in reference to it, totally unjustifiable ; although, 
in so doing, the name of Bishop Chase must often be intro- 
duced in a way not more regretted by any individual, than 
by him who now addresses you. 

The following sentence, in the first paragraph of your 
pamphlet, declares <he subject and design of it : — " We are 
" surprised (flat any objection should be made ; we are more 
" surprised at the character of the objections. We are 
"grie\ed that these objections should come from Bishop 
" Hobart, and we lament the tone and manner in which 
" they are urged. We feel it our duty to call the attention 
" of our Episcopalian brethren to this subject, to express our 
" sentiments upon these objections, and to enter our most 
" solemn protest against the principle upon which they are 
" founded." 

You " are surprised that any objection should be made." 
You "are more surprised at the character of the objections." 
You "are grieved that these objections should come from 
" Bishop Hobart." Hence, and from the general tenour of 
your pamphlet, it would appear that you know of no other 
objectors than Bishop Hobart, and the Standing Committee 
of the General Theological Seminary. The latter, indeed, 
it would seem, you hardly consider a distinct source of ob- 
jection from Bishop Hobart himself. You join in the cry, 
echoed, for certain purposes, from various quarters, that 
that Seminary, and all its concerns, are "under his" (Bishop 
Hobart's) "control." Its acts, therefore, and those of its 
permanent representative, the Standing Committee, you, of 
course, regard as his. Bishop Hobart, then, is held forth as 
the chief, and only, objector to Bishop Chase's design of vi- 
siting England to solicit contributions for a portion of the 
American Church. 

But you ought not, on this account, to be too severely cen- 
sured. The blame, by no means, rests solely or chiefly upon 
you. I am truly sorry to say it; but interests too high and 
sacred are involved to allow me to sacrifice to feeling a deli- 



V 



berate sense of duty — You have been misled by the publica- 
tion of your Bishop. In his printed Letter to Bishop White, 
of forty pages, he doe?, indeed, in seven lines, recognize the 
fact that the venerable Prelate addressed by him, and Bi- 
shops Kemp, Croes, and Moore, have expressed sentiments 
unfavourable to his project. But what their objections are, 
he carefully avoids informing the public ; but by publishing 
Bishop Hobart's Letter, brings him forward as, in fact, the 
only objector of sufficient consequence to be noticed. 

Who, now, would imagine, that before the said Letter of 
Bishop Hobart was written, two had been addressed to your 
Diocesan by Bishop White, urging very strong objections— 
and objections not once noticed in his Reply — against carry- 
ing his design into effect; and the last of the two containing 
the declaration, that it was written at the request of three of 
their Right Rev. Brethren ? 

Here 1 must ask indulgence for one general remark. It ap- 
pears to me very unfair to publish an answer to a letter, when 
that letter is not before the public. The only object of publish- 
ing, in matters of controversy, is to appeal to the world for 
the justness of our views on the contested point. If the con- 
troversy is already public, the sentiments and arguments of 
either party may be judged of by fair comparison with those 
of the other. But if the controversy has been commenced 
in private, I humbly conceive it to be very unjust for either 
side to publish its own share in it, without also fairly exhibit- 
ing that of the other. 

To apply this to the case in hand. Bishop Chase announces 
to his brethren, by private communications, a contemplated 
design, and solicits from each an epistle approbatory of it. 
Bishop White states his reasons for declining to give his ap- 
probation. He states them more strongly and at large, in a 
second Letter, declaring that he does so at the request of 
three other Bishops, and in accordance with their views 
of the subject. Thus far all has been done by private Let- 
ters. Bishop Chase chooses to bring the subject before the 
public. He publishes an answer to Bishop White ; takes it 
for granted that he, and the other Bishops concerned, will 
consider the answer sufficient to remove all their objections ; 
leaves the public in utter ignorance what those objections 
are.; of course designing that they shall unite with him in 
believing that he has triumphantly refuted them ; and before 
his correspondent has time to make it known what are the 
objections thus unceremoniously thrown aside, hurries off to 
England with his pamphlet, there also to produce, before a 
word of defence can reach there, by exhibiting but one side 



of the question, the impression that Bishop White, and the 
three Bishops in whose name he has written, are thoroughly 
answered— Let me ask you, Gentlemen, Is this fair ? 

It is right, however, that both you and the public should 
know the exact character and extent of the opposition to Bi- 
shop Chase's project ; the concealing of which has had the 
effect of placing Bishop Hobart in a peculiarly odious light, 
and bringing upon him reproaches and evil surmisings, by 
which, indeed, it is well known, he can never be deterred 
from the honest and conscientious discharge of duty, but 
which, ought, in the present instance, to have been shared 
by others. 

The second Letter of Bishop White, in a note to which 
will be found the substance of the first, is here subjoined : — • 

?' Philadelphia , September 10/&, 1823a 

?£ Right Reverend and Df.ar Sir, 

c< In my last Letter to you, in which I was under the 
" painful necessity of withholding my approbation of the de- 
" sign of your contemplated voyage, no other reason was 
" given, than a principle under which I had uniformly acted 
" in our Ecclesiastical concerns — the inexpediency of look- 
" ing to a foreign source, except for the obtaining of the 
" Episcopacy.* There occurred to me other objections ; 
" but considering the above as sufficient for my apology, and 
" that the offering of any thing further, would be an obtrud- 
" ing of my opinions, in a concern in which you had made up 
" your mind, I determined not to do or to say further : but 
" learning that our brethren, Bishops Hobart, Crocs, and 
" Brownell, are desirous that there should be brought before 
** you some further considerations, and that they should be 
" transmitted through me, and agreeing with them in senti- 
" ment, I consent to become their organ. My informant is 
" Bishop Hobart. 

" One of the objections, is the interference with an ob- 
a ject so much approved of by our communion throughout 
u the United States, as that of founding a General Theolo- 

* " The sentiment, as expressed in the former Letter, was as follows :— , 
u At the time of organizing our Church, there was no sentiment more* 
" current with those concerned in the business, than the expediency of 
" avoiding all application to a foreign source, except in the single act of 
" obtaining the Episcopal Succession : a line of conduct towards our mo- 
" ther Church, not dictated by the want of affection or of respect, which 
" we hoped to be cherished for iier to the end of time, but because of the 
" effect which might be produced on, our civil interests in the United 
" States." 



7 

1 gical School. There is the less reason for the setting Up 
of a Diocesan Seminary in consideration of distance, be- 
cause of that part of the general plan, which leaves an 
opening for the instituting of branches. Under this head, 
I add for your information, that there has been a reduction 
of board to two dollars and a half per week: and although 
this may be much for young men from Ohio, it is equally so 
for others in different parts of the Union ; who, on that ac- 
count^ are obliged to study under the direction of such pri- 
vate Clergymen as can bestow their services to the effect* 
If Candidates from the said State should be reduced to this 
necessity for a time, it is no more than has happened to all 
of our Students until lately ; and as is the case to this 
hour, with the greater number of them* 
" Next, in regard to the employment of Missionaries, we 
are of opinion, that when we have recently constituted a 
Society for that object, the collections for it will be damped 
by the knowledge of collections making in England for any 
State 5 and much more, if applications should be made from 
various quarters of the United States : for that the exam- 
ple set in one instance will have many followers^ we are 
persuaded; unless it should be understood to be disapproved 
of generally by our communion. 

" This brings to a very serious objection. It is, that in the 
event of the multiplying of Missions to England, there will 
be brought great disgrace on our Church. Perhaps you 
entertain the idea, that there is no probability of this 
evil. But look at the large States westward and southward, 
which are even more destitute than that of Ohio. Then 
look at the immense districts of the Atlantic States, which 
have no more than they of the administration of the ordi- 
nances : for instance, at least the half of Pennsylvania; 
and the same may be said of others. So near to me as in 
the State of Delaware, there is an entire prostration of the 
Church, except lately in the single county of Newcastle. 
Why not a Mission to England from any, or from all of 
u these quarters ? 

" Here^ 1 will say something grounded on my own observa- 
" tion, and for which I only am responsible. 

" I conceive that one of the greatest nuisances among us, 
" is that of a considerable proportion of the demands made 
" upon our large cities, for pecuniary contributions. Of 
" some I know, and have good grounds to suspect of many, 
u that the applicants carried back little more than paid their 
" expenses. Nevertheless, it is an inducement in different 
" neighbourhoods, to propose journeys, perhaps for beneficent 



8 

" objects, which are benefitted, in a degree making a small 
" compensation for the waste of supplies, which would be 
" better applied to valuable establishments at home. This is 
" mentioned as an aggravation of the evil, should it occur, of 
" numerous envoys for charity from this country to England ; 
u to the great discredit of our Church, where we ought to 
u wish to be held in respect, as it is trusted we now are. 

" Once more, Sir, I wish to be understoood, as expressing 
" sentiments which I should not have hazarded, on the ground 
" of a supposed possession of a sufficient weight of character 
" as an individual ; but hope that I am not presumtuous, 
" when called to it by three of our brethren; especially as I 
" think it probable, that they will be sustained in it by the 
" Clergy ge-n^rally. This 1 am led to suppose, from the sen- 
u timents which I have heard expressed by all of them who 
" have spoken to me on the subject. 

" Wishing you health and happiness, 
" 1 am your affectionate brother, 

« WILLIAM WHITE." 

" P. S. Should there be hereafter many applications to 
K England, encouraged by so respectable an example given, 
" how very much will be countenanced the odium which 
" some would fain cast on our Church, as in a state of de- 
" pendence on another Church, incorporated with a foreign 
f; State. This evil report was pressed on the Bishops by 
u some gentlemen from the south, in the Convention of 1814, 
u and was one of the two causes, which produced an entry 
" to be seen on the 310th page of the printed volume of our 
" Journals. The subject was too delicate to be more dis- 
" tinctly stated, but must be remembered, by the Bishops 
64 then present. 

« W. W.» 

This Letter, containing such strong objections by Bishops 
White, Hobart, Croes, and Brownell, and which, the vene- 
rable writer declares his belief, are also entertained by the 
great body of the Clergy, is thrown aside as unworthy of no- 
tice, even in a professed answer to its writer. 

The names of Bishops Moore and Kemp do not appear in 
Bishop White's Letter. As they, however, are mentioned by 
Bishop Chase among the brethren whose objections he so 
unceremoniously disregards, they are to be added to the 
number of those who thought with Bishop Hobart. But 
they, too, are not suffered to be heard, but are to be con- 
sidered as of course satisfactorily answered. 



9 

Be pleased, then, Gentlemen, in the next " Declaration 
u and Protest" which you may think proper to issue, to de- 
clare your surprise and grief, and your conviction of the duty 
of appealing to the public, not only in reference to Bishop 
Hobart, but to Bishop White, Bishop Moore, Bishop Kemp, 
Bishop Croes, and Bishop Brownell ; and, if Bishop White is 
to be credited, many of the Clergy. 

But because it appears that six-tenths of our Bishops are 
thus avowedly of one mind on this subject, it does not (oilow 
that the remaining three approve of the design of your's. 
Bishop Bowen is greatly misunderstood, if deemed to do so. 
He gives no opinion on the expediency of the visit to Eng- 
land ; but expresses himself in a way clearly evincing doubt 
of it. Nor does he say one word in favour of a Diocesan 
School in Ohio. His uniform and consistent views and con- 
duct relative to theological instruction, should secure for 
him the confidence of eyery candid mind, that a Branch of 
the General Seminary, to be located in Ohio, is the provision 
on this subject that he would most approve. 

Bishop Griswold has expressed no opinion on the subject. 

The surprise and grief which the course pursued by the 
Standing Committee of the General Theological Seminary 
occasioned you, will probably be renewed, and perchance 
somewhat increased, by your being informed that that body 
does not stand alone, in this matter, among the representa- 
tives of our common Church. I shall regret farther hurt- 
ing your feelings, but it may be well for the Wardens and 
Vestry of Christ Church, Cincinnati, to know that they are 
also versus the Board of Directors of the Domestic and Fo- 
reign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
in the United States. 

The following is an extract from the minutes of a meeting 
of that Board, held about the time of Bishop Chase's de- 
parture : — 

" At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Domestic 
11 and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant 
" Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
" held at the residence of the Right Rev. Bishop White, 
" in the city of Philadelphia, on the first day of October, 
" in the year of our Lord 1 823 ; 

" It was stated to the Board, that there has been an- 
" nounced the design of making an application in England, 
" for the raising of money, to be applied to missionary pur- 
" poses in the United States. 

" Whereupon, resolved, as the opinion of this Board, that 

2 



10 

u every expedient for the said object may have an unfavour 
"■■able effect on the prospects of the Society which we re* 
" present 5 that it may excite other applications to the same 
*• source ; and that the effect of such measures will probably 
" be the lessening of the respectability of our Church in the 
" estimation of our venerable Mother Church of England ; 
" and, as we believe, will have that effect with our fellow- 
" citizens of the American Union. 

" The opinion now expressed, is not designed to discoun- 
u tenance the thankful acceptance of any pecuniary contri- 
" butions which may be presented from a foreign country, 
" either generally to the Society which we represent, or for 
44 the missionary exertions of any particular State." 

The reader will perceive that this transaction took place 
at Philadelphia, on the very day on which Bishop Chase 
sailed from New- York. Of course, it could not have been 
known to him. It is here noticed, merely to show that the 
representatives of the General Missionary Society agree in 
sentiment on this subject, with those of the General Theo- 
logical Seminary, and with the great body of our Bishops, 
and, as it is believed, of our Clergy. 

Having now done what should have been done by an- 
other—given you some idea of the real character and extent 
of the opposition to your Bishop's transatlantic expedition, I 
proceed to notice your leading objections to Bishop Hobart's 
Letter in particular. 

As you are pleased to speak of that Letter in language 
calculated, and designed, to produce the idea that it evinces 
an almost ultra-papal disposition to lord it over God's he- 
ritage, and carry the proud purpose of ambition even within 
the precincts of the rights of others, — it is fair that the Let- 
ter be produced, to speak for itself. It is as follows : — 

" New-York, September 11, 1823. 
" Right Reverend and Dear Sir, 

44 Having heard from Mr. Kip, that you intend to stop 
" at Kingston on your way, I address this letter to you at 
" that place. 

" Your letter arrived during my absence from the city. A 
44 few days after my return, 1 received a letter from Bishop 
44 White, containing an extract from one addressed by him 
44 to you ; by which it appears that he disapproves of your 
" intended application to England, and declines in any way 
u to promote it. A letter from Bishop Croes expressed sen- 
" timents of disapprobation ; which I also heard from Bishop 



11 

" Brownell, who has been in this city. And I have received 
*• a letter from South-Carolina to the same effect ; and in 
*' their opinions I cordially unite. It seemed an act of can- 
M dour and justice to you, to acquaint you with the views 
11 entertained of the plans and objects connected with your 
" contemplated voyage to England* I am the more induced 
" to perfect freedom of communication with you, from the 
* c circumstance that as you request my approbation of your 
* : plan, and my aid in accomplishing it, you ought to know 
" my sentiments. 

" I would wish, in the first instance, to remove from your 
" mind the impression that I have willingly slighted or neg- 
ii lected you. The terms in which I spoke of you to your 
" son when he was in this city, if he communicated them to 
u you, would, I should suppose, have been my security against 
w an imputation of this sort. Within this year p; st, J have 
" been sick several times, and this circumstance, with the 
" greater pressure of dudes in the intervals of health, pre- 
u vented me from carrying into execution my intention of 
u writing you a long letter. As to the intimation of neglect 
" on the part of your brethren the Bishops, I was prevented 
rt by illness from attending the General Convention ; but 
" Bishop White informs me that he has written to you at the 
u request of the Bishops, in answer to your communication 
" to them. 

* s With respect to the neglect of your diocese, you will 
" certainly recollect that $3000 were collected by your son 
i; for your missionary purposes; $1300 were raised in this 
" city, and some of the remainder in other parts of this State ; 
" that the early exertions of a Missionary Society in Penn- 
" sylvania probably laid the foundation of the Church in 

Ohio ; and that the General Missionary Society have, as I 

am informed, recently granted to you $400. 

" The objections which I have heard from our brethren 

in the Episcopacy, and very generally from all who are 
" informed of the measure, respect the objects of your appli- 
" cation to England, and the application, considered in itself. 

" When you mention generally, that the object of your 
f* visit to England is 4 to accomplish designs of great im- 
" portance to the primitive Church in the Western States,* 
i6 the inquiry naturally occurs, What evidence there is of any 
if interest which Episcopalians of the States other than that 
" of Ohio, can have m a design which originated in that 
u diocese, which is sanctioned by no other, and which con- 
" templates a provision for that diocese only, confined as 
* s your episcopal jurisdiction is to that State ? And it would! 



(C 



a 



\% 

u seem the less necessary for Ohio to extend to others that 
u care which, it would appear, is so much wanted for herself 
" when the General Theological Seminary, and the General 
" Missionary Society, are constituted with a view of provid- 
" ing in some measure for their wants. 

" The principal object of your application, the establish- 
" ment of a Diocesan Theological School in Ohio, excites 
" the deepest solicitude, and the strongest disapprobation. 
" After years of conflicting views and interests, a Genera! 
" Theological Seminary was at length established, on prin 
" ciples which removed objections that previously existed, 
" and with unprecedented unanimity. The wishes, the hopes 
" and the exertions, of the Church generally, are directed to 
" this Institution. It is justly regarded as a principal mear 
" and pledge of her prosperity. With a view to concentrat( 
" all opinions and efforts, it is contemplated to give up the 
" Branch School at Geneva in this State. A Diocesan Schoo. 
" in Maryland, commenced in opposition to the wishes o 
" the Bishop of that diocese, has, on the principle of sup 
46 porting the General Institution alone, been put down witl 
" great unanimity by the last Convention. 

<' This surely is an unfortunate period for the Bishop o 
" another diocese, to declare his intention of establishing & 
" Diocesan Theological School, and making an unprece 
" dented application to England for funds, to which, if they 
44 should be given, the General Seminary has paramount 
" claims. The necessity of such a school in Ohio at this 
44 time, where there are scarcely any candidates, and little 
44 prospects of there being more than would constitute a 
" small class, may well be denied. And should the necessity 
" subsequently appear, the General Seminary makes provi- 
44 sion for the establishment of Branch Schools. This then 
" would be the course which is dictated by a regard to the 
" authority and to the unity of the Church, which I trust you 
44 estimate as of the first importance. Let the diocese of 
« Ohio make application to the Trustees of the General Se- 
" minary, and to the Convention ; and should the measure 
" appear necessary and proper, every effort will be made to 
" gratify her with a Branch School. At the same time, let 
44 me observe, that I should think the greatest advantages 
44 would result from the ordination" [doubtless a misprint 
for education'] " of your candidates in the General Seminary, 
t( not onl) from the greater number and ability of the Pro- 
" fessors, but from the extended means of observation and 
" improvement, and of the knowledge of mankind which 
" they would enjoy. That persons so educated would be 



• 



IS 

indisposed and disqualified for labours as Missionaries in 
j your remote diocese, may be true in a few cases, but cer- 
I tainly not in all, and will be less so as the congregations on 

the sea-board become supulied with Clergymen. It cer- 
^ tainly is against your theory, that taking the list of Clergy- 

* men in Swords's Almanack in 1822, all of the Clergy there 
enumerated, except one, have come from this quarter, 
where they studied and received orders ; and three of them 
from this diocese. The expense of education here cannot 

<\ be so serious an objection, when you are informed that 
arrangements are making for procuring board for $2 50 
' per week ; and Lake Erie and the Canal would afford the 
means of avoiding the 4 high hills and mountains' between 
us. 

"With respect to the missionary objects of your application, 
it, doubtless, will be asked, what claims has Ohio, on this 
ipoint, which may not be urged by others ? A district of this 
^State, bounded on the east by the Gennesee river, presents a 
more destitute aspect, and quite as many and as favourable 
opportunities of raising new congregations, as the diocese 
f Ohio. The same remark would apply to parts of Penn- 
ylvania and Virginia, and more particularly to North- Car- 
olina and Georgia — not to mention other States ; and 
specially those not formed into dioceses. What propriety 
•jjhen does there appear in presenting prominently the wants 

* of Ohio to the Church of England ? If the application be 
4 a proper one, should not the General Missionary Society, 
' which aims to provide for all the destitute portions of our 
4 country, be the receptacle of their benefactions ? But the 
4 principle on which our Church has uniformly acted, pre- 
4 sents, in the opinion of many, and particularly of Bishop 
4 White, a serious objection to your intended application, 
4 considered in itself. This principle, as stated by himself, 
4 4 The expediency of avoiding all application to a foreign 

* source, except in the single act of obtaining the Episcopal 
succession. A line of conduct towards our Mother Church, 
not dictated by the want of affection or respect, which we 

4 hope to be cherished for her to the end of time ; but be- 
1 cause of the effect which might be produced in our civil 
4 institutions in the United States.' There is a sentiment 
4 too of national pride, which renders many averse to our 
4 Church lowering herself to the attitude of a supplicant for 
\ i foreign bounty, to prosecute objects to which her own re- 
4 sources ought to be equal. And if this office, in their view 
4 so humiliating to the Church, must be performed, they 
'* would earnestly hope it would not be assumed by one of 



t 



14 

w her highest officers. Considering the state of society, and 
" the public feeling, in England, they seriously apprehend 
" that such a measure would rather tend to degrade there, 
" as well as elsewhere, the character of the American Epis- 
'* copacy. The disunited view in which your application 
£s would present the American Church to her friends in Eng- 
44 land, is another formidable objection. They have just 
" heard that conflicting interests are now reconciled in a 
" General Theological Seminary, and that a General Mis- 
" sionary Society, organized, as well as the other, by the 
44 highest authority of the Church, aims at relieving wants 
u not adequately provided for by diocesan arrangements. 
" The union in these objects, which appears to characterize 
44 our Church, is a subject of congratulation with them : 
'* when, lo ! one of her Bishops appears among them, sup- 
" plicating their benefactions for diocesan purposes, for a 
" local Missionary Society, and a local Theological School. 
" Will not the impression be highly unfavourable as to the 
" unity which subsists among us ? Will they not mistrust 
" the propriety and expediency of such an application ? Will 
" they not more than know, if not from official information, 
" which I should not be surprised if they receive, certainly 
" from other sources, that this application is in opposition 
" to the general sentiments of the Church here, and is under- 
" taken by a Bishop, not only without consulting his bre- 
" thren, but without their countenance, and in opposition to 
18 their earnest wishes and remonstrances. From the infor- 
" mation which I have received from England, I think there 
44 would be little prospect of the success of an application of 
" this sort, even when most powerfully urged. And I well 
44 remember, that when the claims of the settlers in the new 
" townships of Canada were presented, and enforced in Eng- 
" land by the powerful influence of the Bishop of Quebec, 
44 and the Rev. Dr. Stewart, but a small sum was obtained. 
" If the success then would be doubtful, under the most 
u favourable circumstances, must there not be a failure when 
" so many obstacles as will exist in your case are opposed 
" to your application? and how mortifying would be a failure 
44 in reference to yourself, to the American Episcopacy, and 
44 to the American Church ! With a view to the improve- 
" ment of my health, and with this view only, I am preparing 
44 for a voyage to England, and for a residence of a twelve- 
11 month abroad. You mention your intention of going in 
" the packet on the first of October ; and as my appearance 
44 in England at the same time with you would lead to the 
supposition that the object of your voyage was approved. 



a 



15 

11 by me, I am constrained to forego the gratification of your 
" company, and to take my passage in another vessel. Even 
" with this precaution, I foresee the possibility of your being 
'* brought into unpleasant contact, and shall doubtless be in- 
" quired of with regard to the object of your visit, and must 
M state the opinion entertained concerning it. It may appear 
" my duty to take some pains to prevent the impression, that 
" a measure deemed so injudicious and inexpedient by my 
<c brethren and the great body of the Church here, is coun- 
" tenanced by them. I do not think it at all unlikely, that I 
li shall be requested to make known particularly, if you pro- 
u secute your object, the paramount claims of the general 
11 institutions of our Church : and whatever pain it may give 
u me, I shall not hesitate to discharge the dictates of my 
" duty. I should deprecate, however, the effect which such 
u a state of things would produce on the general character 
Ci of our Church ; and the unpleasant situation in which both 
11 of us would be placed. I understand, for I have not seen 
" the communication to the Bishops, you have used great 
"plainness ; and I trust, therefore, that you will not be dis- 
" pleased with the candour which the subject seemed to re- 
11 quire of this communication to you. And as in your letter 
" to me, you express your confidence in my ' unquestioned 
H love for the Zion of our God,' you will do me the justice 
li to believe, that this sentiment controls all the views which 
" 1 have taken of this very important matter, and has die- 
" tated the remarks which I have made to you. Allow me, 
" with the same frankness in which you have indulged, and 
" with real interest in your character, to intimate what an 
" opportunity the measures which you have adopted, should 
" they be persevered in, would give to those unfriendly to 
" you, to justify the representations which they made of your 
" disposition and views, at the time the question of your 
" consecration was agitated. It would be deeply to be la- 
" mented, that intentions, however pure, and zeal, however 
tc commendable, should induce you to persevere in a plan, 
" which, in the # opinion of so many of your brethren, will not 
" advance your own reputation, or that of the Episcopacy : 
" and against which they offer so many serious objections in 
" reference to its effects on the character and interests of the 
" Church. Fully persuaded, Right Reverend and dear Sir, 
" that the only wise and prudent measure is to stop before 
" you proceed further, in a course which will involve you in 
" difficulty and trouble, and subject you to the mortification 
" of failure, under the consciousness of having disregarded 
" the many weighty considerations which were presented in 



16 

* opposition, i would most respectfully and affectionately 
~ 4 urge on you the relinquishment of it. 
" I remain, 

" Very truly and sincerely, 

" Your friend and brother, 

" J. H. HOBART." 

To this Letter, there is appended, in Bishop Chase's 
pamphlet, the following— 

" Extract from a Note received from the Right Rev. Bishop 
Hobart, dated Sept. 20th, 1823. 

" ' At a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the 
"General Theological Seminary, resolved, as the opinion of 
" this committee, that the General Theological Seminary of 
" the Protestant Episcopal Church of America, from its 
" character as established by the authority of that Church, 
u and under its control ; from the importance of its design, 
" which js to provide for the whole Church, a pious, learned, 
w and orthodox ministry ; and from the state of its funds, 
" which are inadequate to its present limited exigencies ; is 
" peculiarly entitled to the patronage of all those benevolent 
" individuals who take an interest in the prosperity of the 
" American Church : and that the Secretary be directed to 
" furnish the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart official copies of this 
" Resolution, under the seal of the Secretary, to be used by 
M him as he may judge expedient.' 

" ' It was understood, that it might be expedient for me to 
u communicate these copies to the various Societies of the 
" Church of England, to the Bishops, and others. It is also 
6t proper to mention, that a meeting of the Managers of the 
" General Missionary Society will be held in Philadelphia on 
• ; the 30th instant, and that the Managers, when met, may 
" perhaps also put in a caveat against your design.' " 

And now, Messieurs Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, 
Cincinnati, and now, gentle reader, whosoever thou art, what 
is there in this Letter and Note to justify the high language 
of the Declaration and Protest with regard to them ? 

The following are some specimens of that language :— • 

" We cannot shut our eyes against the fact, that this at- 
*< tempt, both in matter and manner, in consistency of pur- 
" pose and in inconsistency of conduct, evinces a spirit of 
" dictation, dangerous to the unity, the harmony, the exist- 
" ence of the Church." — ki A superiority is assumed by one 
" Bishop over another, and, conceded to him, strongly re- 
" sembling that originally claimed over his brethren by the 




VI 

ishojj of Rome, upon which claim the Papal power was 
gradually established." — " We protest against the whole 
" tenor of Bishop Hobart's Letter to Bishop Chase, as a 
" strong instance of departure from that mutual respect to- 
" ward each other, which ought always to be observed be- 
" tween equals. We protest against the suggestion made by 
4t Bishop Hobart, that his appearance in England, at the 
" same time with Bishop Chase, might lead to the supposi- 
lc tion that Bishop Chase's mission was approved by him : 
" because this suggestion assumes the principle, that the 
" approbation of Bishop Hobart was necessary to authorize 
" and countenance the mission, and virtually subverts the 
" independence of our diocese and Bishop." 

These are truly fine flourishes, and I am far from any de° 
sire to deprive your honourable Board of the credit they 
reflect on your rhetorical skill. Good common sense, how- 
ever, cannot but feel some interest in the fact, that they 
have not the least natural connexion with the subject which 
inspired them* Religion and morality, too, cannot be un- 
concerned about them, inasmuch as they are downright ca- 
lumny against a man to whase character, talents, and influ- 
ence, few, 1 believe, are unwilling to own, the Church in the 
United States owes a very large debt of gratitude ; and let 
me tell you, Gentlemen, a man, in whom your diocese, when, 
a few years since, your Bishop's affecting and eloquent ap- 
peal in its behalf, reached the Atlantic States, found a strong 
and efficient friend. You are indebted to his prompt and 
warm recommendation of your cause for much of the libera- 
lity which, on that occasion, distinguished the diocese and 
city of New- York. And you may rest well assured, that in 
any farther application from the same source, which he did 
not deem in itself improper, and injurious to the charac- 
ter and interests of the Church, he would still be your 
fast fricnd 9 But there never yet was a man whose sole aim 
was duty, firmly and independently discharged, without fear 
of its responsibility, who did not raise up enemies and ca- 
lumniators. It is not the post of ease, to be sure, but it is 
that of true dignity and honour, and I may add, of consistent 
piety, to which he is brought who acts upon the principle, 
44 which, prompting, in all circumstances, the right. purpose, 
" unappalled by opposition, undismayed by odium, meekly 
" and prudently, but firmly, pursues that purpose, to its 
<; failure or to its accomplishment — 



" Justum et tenacem propositi ' 

" Non civium ardor prava jubentium. 



18 

** Noh vultus ihstantis tyranm, 
" Mente quatit solida."* 

It was under the wonted influence of this principle, that 
Bishop Hobart penned the Letter which has so exasperated 
your honourable Board. In the extracts given above from 
your pamphlet, and in many similar expressions, you have 
laid your view of the Letter before the public. That impar- 
tial judge will now allow me to present mine ; and there I 
will cheerfully rest the cause. 

Bishop Chase forms the determination to visit " Old Eng- 
" land, to accomplish designs of great importance to the pri- 
cc mitive Church of God in the Western States," or, as he 
explains himself more particularly, " to solicit means for the 
" establishment of a school fot" the education of young men 
u for the ministry, and for the aid of" the " Protestant Epis- 
" copal Missionary Society of" Ohio. He Communicates 
this design to each of his brother Bishops, soliciting from 
each " an epistle approbatory of the measure." Of course, 
one of those thus. addressed is Bishop Hobart. In common 
with the majority of the Bishops, he cannot, in his conscience, 
give " an approbatory epistle." But as it has been asked", 
good manners at least require that he give a negative an- 
swer. But is he bound to stop there? Is it not right that 
he should state his reasons for withholding such an epistle ? 
Is it going beyond his proper province to add such considera- 
tions as he may hope will satisfy his correspondent that the 
design does not admit of approbation ? 

What was that design t Was it one in which Bishop Chase 
was merely personally concerned, or in which his Diocese 
only was interested, and in which, therefore, interference 
might be thought unauthorized r He goes, professedly, on an 
errand for the Church "in the Western State s"— in the greater 
part of our Union. With the Church in by far the largest 
portion of the district of which he thus constitutes himself 
the representative and agent, he has no more connexion than 
any other Bishop in the country. Every Bishop, then, is as 
much entitled as he, to think, and if he chooses, to speak and 
act, in behalf of that Church ; and if he thinks measures are 
pursuing which, so far from benefiting it, will injure and dis- 
credit it, he is right in endeavouring, by all proper means, t@ 
prevent those measures. 

But with regard to Ohio itself. That Diocese is a part of 
the American Church. The character and interests of each 

* Bishop Hobart's Introductory Address at the opening of th» General 
Theological Seminary. 



19 

branch of that Church are connected with those of the whole* 
The character and interests, therefore, of the whole, are 
concerned in those of each Diocese. When any branch, 
therefore, of this Ecclesiastical confederation pursues mea- 
sures which the friends of our Church at large think unfa- 
vourable to her character and interests, they have a right to 
endeavour to prevent the eyil. Especially when such mea- 
sures are calculated to bring disgrace upon the general 
Church, by representing her as criminally indifferent to the 
necessities of her weaker members, struggling with difficul- 
ties, and suffering under poverty and disappointment, we 
must honour the spirit which would rise in her defence, and 
endeavour to rescue her from the unmerited odium. 

It is not necessary, at this moment, to stop to inquire 
whether Bishop Hobart was right in being influenced by 
any or all of the above considerations in opposing Bishop 
Chasers having recourse to England for the specified pur- 
poses. U is enough that Bishop Hobart honestly and consci- 
entiously thought that duty called upon him thus to act. He 
was to answer Bishop Chase's request for an approbatory 
epistle e He verily believed that the design for which his ap- 
, probation was asked, was one that could not be approved, 
but which threatened consequences highly injurious to the 
Church. Actuated by the zeal with which he has ever been 
accustomed to cherish an$ exercise the fct unquestioned love 
(i for the Zion of our God, 9 ? which Bishop Chase so justly 
ascribes to him, he penned his letter of reply. What is there 
in that letter but the earnestness of a sincere and honest man, 
acting from the pure and powerful impulse of duty— the can- 
dour of a man who would disguise none of his real sentiments 
and views, and whose opinion, virtually asked, he would 
frankly give— -the disinterestedness of a good Bishop, who, 
as one set for the peace, unity, and prosperity, of the Zion 
of our God, would sacrifice all selfish personal regards to the 
high call of duty— the single regard for truth in a man tho- 
roughly convinced that the most important interests were at 
stake — and all without the least sacrifice of the mildness and 
moderation of a Christian, the respect of a brother Bishop, 
and the urbanity of a gentleman? To him who will read 
that letter, calmly and impartially, with the recollection that 
it is penned by one who, from a high sense of duty, felt 
great solicitude on the subject, and was anxious to advance 
every argument which he thought might possibly be effectual, 
I think I need not fear to appeal for decision on the respec- 
tive merits of the opinions of that letter, which have been ex- 
pressed by you, gentlemen, and by him who now addreses you. 



20 

You particularly cite, as evidence of the lordly and into-' 
lerant spirit which dictated Bishop Hobart's letter, the senti- 
ments contained in the following passage : — "• You mention 
" your intention of going in the packet on the first of Octo- 
" ber ; and as my appearance in England at the same time 
*' with you would lead to the supposition that the object of 
" your voyage was approved by me, 1 am constrained to 
" forego the gratification of your company, and to take my 
" passage in another vessel. Even with this precaution, I 
" foresee the possibility of our being brought into unplea- 
" sant contact, and shall doubtless be inquired of with re- 
" gard to the object of your psit, and must state the opinion 
ct entertained concerning it. It may appear my duty to take 
" some pains to prevent the impression, that a measure 
" deemed so injudicious and inexpedient by my brethren, 
" and the great body of the Church here, is countenanced 
" by them. 1 do not think it at all unlikely, that 1 shall be 
" requested to make known particularly, if you prosecute 
" your object, the paramount claims of the general institu- 
" tions of cur Church : and whatever pain it may give me, I 
a shall not hesitate to discharge the dictates of my duty. 
" 1 should deprecate, however, the effect which such a state 
a of things would produce on the general character of our 
u Church ; and the unpleasant situation in which both of us 
" would be placed." 

Now what is there in these sentiments to justify your view 
of them ? Let good common sense reflect on them. The 
visit of an American Bishop to England is an unprecedented 
event. It would be an affectation of humility to suppose 
that it would not attract the particular notice of the Church 
of England. It so happens that two of our Bishops have 
formed the plan of embarking for England about the same 
time. One of them professes to go " to accomplish designs 
<s of great importance to the Church in the" largest section 
of our country. The other, in common with most of his bro- 
ther Bishops, is seriously convinced that this mode of accom- 
plishing those designs is an improper one, and threatening 
very injurious consequences to our Church. He determines 
to act consistently with this opinion; frankly to tell his bro- 
ther Bishop what his objections are ; and endeavour to dis- 
suade him from carrying his design into effect. But consist- 
ency requires, also, that he avoid what may even have the ap- 
pearance of his giving to that design, the approbation which 
had been asked. His accompanying his brother Bishop in a 
voyage expressly undertaken for the accomplishment of that 
design, and arriving with him in England, could not but wear 



21 

that appearance. The arrival of two of our Bishops could not 
fail to attract notice. The great concerns for which one of 
them professes himself the agent, would undoubtedly be sup- 
posed to be shared by the other. The latter, therefore, 
yielding to a sense of duty, waves the strong personal consi- 
deration of having so desirable a travelling companion, in fa- 
vour of considerations, with him ever the foremost, arising 
out of his official character, and his connexion with the 
Church. 

But still farther, he foresees that his conscientious oppo« 
sition, and the conscientious opposition of almost all the Ame- 
rican Bishops, to the projected expedition, must, for the ho- 
nour of our Church, be made known in England ; particularly 
as it is morally certain that his opinions and views will be 
asked ; and as he is the bearer of an official instrument from 
the General Theological Seminary, having a reference to this 
subject. With his accustomed frankness, he intimates these 
circumstances, and gives fair warning that he will "not hesi- 
" tate to discharge the dictates of duty." 

He must look, indeed, with a jaundiced eye, on this por- 
tion of Bishop Hobart's letter, who will not admire the evi- 
dence it affords of the frankness, firmness, and conscientious- 
ness of the writer. One great object, it is well known, of his 
departure from this country, was a respite from the great 
pressure of anxiety and care to which his mind was inces- 
santly subjected by unwearied and disinterested devotion, 
through evil report and through good report, to whatever he 
believed conducive to the best interests of that kingdom of 
the Redeemer for which he had given himself — and would not 
shrink from the consequences — -to spend and be spent. Still, 
however, desirable and necessary as this rest was, he would 
not enjoy it ignobly — he would not sacrifice to it aught of 
duty — he would still obey every call to do what in him lies, 
for the defence and interests of the Church he so much 
loves. He foresaw, indeed, the inconveniences, now so pa- 
thetically deprecated, of having a controversy in a foreign 
country between two Bishops of our Church. But that would 
not be to be laid to his door. He would stand only upon the de- 
fensive. If measures should be originated there, which, in his 
opinion, and in that of most of our Bishops, and, as he had 
every reason to believe, of our Church generally, would dis- 
credit and injure her, he would not be wanting in his duty as 
one of the chief guardians of her interest?. He rightly 
judged that the evil of a controversy would be much less 
than that of suffering such injurious measures to be prose- 
cuted, without an effort to rescue our Church from the sus- 



22 

picion of participating in them, and, impossible, from the ef- 
fects of their success. It should be remembered, too, that 
whatever evil may arise out of this controversy, must be laid 
to their charge who brought the concerns of our Church 
thus unfavourably before the British public, and not to his, 
who, like an honest man, gave fair warning that he would 
not shrink from duty. 

The necessity of Bishop Hobart's interference in England, 
it may farther be remarked, was foreseen by Bishop White, 
who had intimated to him, before his departure, t; that he 
" might be under the necessity of stating the circumstances 
4C which should have prevented his" (Bishop Chase's) 
<c voyage, in consequence of the inquiries which would be 
" made.V 

You labour hard to fix upon Bishop Hobart the charge of in- 
consistency in now being so warm an advocate for the Gene* 
ral Theological Seminary, when he once exerted all his influ- 
ence for the establishment of a local one in his own diocese. 
Others, too, who are unwilling to let any opportunity pass of 
casting injurious imputations upon him, gladly join you,, Both 
you and they, however, have failed in a fair and impartial state- 
ment of the case. It would appear from your representation, 
that the Bishop's change of views on this subject was simply 
owing to the fact of the Seminary being now placed where it 
can be under his control. Yoii have withholden very im- 
portant particulars, the bearing of which upon the question 
will be duly appreciated by the candid and impartial reader. 

Bishop Hobart did, indeed, maintain, in unison with his 
brethren assembled in General Convention in 1820, and 
with all who knew any thing of our ecclesiastical polity, the 
right of every Diocese to make what arrangements it pleases 
for the education of its candidates for orders, agreeably to 
the provisions of the Canons of the General Convention* 
Nor has he ever departed from this principle. He has never 
objected to the project of a Theological Seminary in Ohio, or 
elsewhere, because an individual Diocese has no right to form 
and execute such a project. 

This, however, is a question not only of right, but also of 
expediency. Circumstances may not require, and may even 
render improper, the exercise of a right which, in itself, is 
unquestiohableo This is a dictate of common sense, and 
needs no illustration. 

When an unusually full Convention of this Diocese, with 
unusual unanimity, organized a plan for theological educa- 
tion in the Diocese, they, of course, avowed the principle, 
that this exercise of an incontrovertible right was expedient 



£nd proper. They pretended not, however, to require that 
every one should see it in the same light. They who deemed 
this act of our Diocese inexpedient, and having an unfa- 
vourable bearing upon the general interests of the Church, 
certainly had a right to object to it upon that score, and no 
fault was found with them for doing so. Decidedly, how- 
ever, of a different opinion, and firm and conscientious in the 
persuasion that a Seminary in New- York, from the peculiar 
advantages of the situation, and the capability of the Diocese 
to support it, would greatly subserve the interests of our 
Church at large, Bishop Hobart did, indeed, feel the deepest 
solicitude on the subject, and bestowed upon it his wonted 
zeal and exertion. Nor were, his views, and those of the 
great body of his Clergy and Laity, merely their's. In other 
Dioceses also they were cordially entertained. It was their 
influence which led to the resolution of the House of Bi- 
shops, in 1 820, accompanying their acquiescence in the re- 
moval of the General Seminary to New-Haven. Bishop 
Bowen, who then was, as he has ever been, a firm and con- 
sistent friend of the General Seminary, nevertheless, in evi- 
dent allusion to New-York, recognized, in his Address to his 
Convention, the propriety of establishing diocesan schools 
where circumstances were favourable to their proper esta- 
blishment and support. Bishop Brownell, to whose Diocese 
the General Seminary was removed, declared, within the 
knowledge of him who now addresses you, that New-York 
would have, and ought to have, a Theological Seminary. Si- 
milar instances of Bishops, Clergymen, and distinguished 
Laymen, in various parts of the country * might be produced. 
Nor do 1 wish to conceal the fact, that besides his convic- 
tion of the particular expediency of a Theological Seminary 
in New-York, Bishop Hobart did entertain the idea of the 
inexpediency of a General Seminary — an idea which was aiso 
very strongly entertained, and fully expressed, by Bishop 
White. Bishop Hobart, therefore, in the General Conven- 
tions of 1814 and 1817, opposed the proposition for esta- 
blishing such a Seminary* In the latter Convention, how- 
ever, it was carried. The Seminary was established in 
New- York, and Bishop Hobart, waving his objections to a 
General Seminary, became its decided friend and sup- 
porter. A reference to the Seninary, in this stage of its 
existence, has been made by you in something like a trium- 
phant style. You wish to turn to your advantage the unde- 
niable fact that it was then far from being in a prosperous 
state. Do you forget, however, that great institutions, re- 
quiring large funds, and yet commencing without a single 



24 

cent, and having their treasury supplied, not by some imme 
diate endowment, but only by small contributions, must ne- 
cessarily proceed very slowly during the first few years of their 
existence f — You should also bear in mind, that although the 
Seminary was in New- York, its business was transacted in 
Philadelphia. The Committee appointed by the Convention 
to manage its concerns were so scattered, that a quorum 
could not be had without the necessity of some of them 
taking long journies. Few, then, and far between, were, and 
must have been, the meetings of that body; and when they 
were held, it was at the distance of nearly an hundred miles 
from the Seminary. — Just, too, as the business of instruction 
was getting well ordered, and successfully prosecuted, under 
professors whose characters and talents, it was rightly ex- 
pected, would draw to the institution the attention of the 
whole Church, its friends experienced the unexpected disap- 
pointment of the loss of one of them, by his removal to ano- 
ther Diocese. So much dependence was placed on the ac- 
knowledged talents of this gentleman, and so much satisfac- 
tion felt at an arrangement which, it was hoped, would secure 
his permanent settlement, that, as was to be expected, the 
disappointment produced a depressing influence. 

The period for the meeting of another General Conven- 
tion was now approaching. These several unfavourable 
circumstances, and particularly the difficulty of having meet- 
ings of the Committee to whom the Convention had intrusted 
the Seminary, with as much ease and frequency as the cir- 
cumstances required, led to the expressions in the Report of 
the Committee which you exhibit as proof of the inefficiency 
of the Seminary. 

There were, however, two other great difficulties in the 
way; which, in fact, constituted, it is believed, the main ob- 
jections of Bishop White, Bishop Hobart, and others, to a 
General Theological Seminary, under the control of the Ge- 
neral. Convention. The first of these was, that the concerns 
of that institution coming regularly before the Convention, 
would risk, and in fact render certain, the frequent in- 
troduction of theological discussions, which ought, as much 
as possible, to be kept out of such assemblies. The me- 
rits of professors and of books would raise questions of end- 
less intricacy, and bring in disputes which might banish for 
ever the harmony which has happily thus far, in a peculiar de- 
gree, distinguished the deliberations of that body. By the 
divine blessing, our Church has been most happily carried 
through the trying events of establishing her polity, and the 
standards of her faith and worship. The adopting of mea» 



25 

*ures which would excite discussions which these standards 
were designed to supersede, was, therefore, deprecated by 
many of the best friends of the Church, and especially by 
him who has been an active and influential member of her 
councils from the first, and to whom we owe so much for the 
wisdom with which they have been characterized. 

The other great difficulty in the way of the Seminary, as 
then established, was the Constitution of oar General Con- 
tention. That body contains no fair representation of the 
Church. There are, indeed, in the Lower House, what are 
called Delegates, but they represent only Dioceses, and not 
the Clergy and People of the Dioceses. They are as the 
Senators in Congress, who represent States, and not the 
people therein; for the Dioceses in our House of Clerical 
and Lay Deputies, like the States in the Senate, are all 
equally represented 5 and upon the call of the delegation 
from any one, have each but one vote. Instead, therefore, 
of that just balance between the rights of the States as such, 
and of their citizens individually, which exists in the two 
Houses of Congress, in both Houses of our General Conven- 
tion, the Dioceses* be they large or small, with many or few 
Clergy and Parishes, are all upon a perfect equality. 

To show the practical operation of this. There are now 
sixteen Dioceses in union with the General Convention. 
Any nine, consequently, can control the proceedings of the 
House of Delegates. In the sixteen Dioceses there are 373 
Clergymen. Nine of the Dioceses contain but 56 of this 
number. They, therefore, can completely control the re- 
mainder, which have 317 Clergymen. There being also, of 
course, in each case, a proportioned number of parishes and 
members. 

Now it was very well, and very naturally, understood, that 
the General Seminary would look principally to New- York 
for its endowment. And yet let that Diocese, or any other, 
do what it would in its support, it would have no more influ- 
ence in its concerns than the smallest Diocese, which gave 
not a cent. The General Convention, in which the said 
smallest and least efficient Diocese is upon a perfect equality 
with the largest and the most liberal, might remove the Semi- 
nary, and dispose of its funds, as it pleased. 

Many fine theories of disinterestedness may now occur, 
Gentlemen, to your minds, and those of other readers. I 
trust, however, that good common sense will bear me out in 
saying, that it was very natural that the above difficulty 
should be, as it was 3 one of great magnitude, in opposition 

4 



26 

both to the original establishment of the General Seminary } 
and to its endowment when established. 

From all these circumstances, although, while the General 
Seminary was in his Diocese, Bishop Hobart did what he 
could to promote its interests, he, and the Clerical and Lay- 
Delegates from New- York, in the General Convention of 
1820, made but little opposition to the project of removing 
that Seminary to New- Haven. They, however, clearly made 
known, that if the removal were effected, a Diocesan Semi- 
nary would be established in New-York. And, as I have 
observed, this avowal, and an approval of its principle, led 
to the declaration of the Bishops, " that in concurring in the 
" resolutions relative to the Theological Seminary, and in 
" its removal from the city of New- York, they" deemed " it 
u proper to declare, that they 75 did " not mean to interfere 
n with any plan, in any diocese or dioceses, for the establish- 
" ment of theological institutions or professorships." 

The General Seminary being thus removed, and the de- 
terminations with regard to New- York thus clearly under- 
stood, Bishop Hobart immediately began to devise measures 
for carrying those determinations into effect. Nothing effi- 
cient could, of course, be done, until the meeting of the Con- 
vention in the fall. During the intervening months, mea- 
sures were industriously pursued to raise funds in New- York 
for the Seminary at New-Haven. Bishop Hobart, therefore, 
as must have been expected, and as must be approved by 
every honourable and candid mind, took the proper steps for 
informing the Clergy and people of his Diocese, that a Semi- 
nary of their own would soon be offered to their patronage ; 
stating to them his reasons for thinking that such an one 
ought to have a decided preference over one controlled by 
the General Convention; and requesting them to delay their 
own decision on the point until the meeting of the New- York 
Convention, when the subject would be fully discussed. 

That Convention met. The subject was very fully dis- 
cussed. An almost unanimous vote of an unusually large 
number of members coincided with the Bishop. 

In due time, the New-York Seminary was put in opera- 
tion. The munificent bequest, which has endeared to the 
friends of religion and the Church the memory of Jacob 
Sherred, led to the call of the special General Convention 
of 1 82 J . And that led to the return of the General Seminary 
to New-York, and the amalgamation with it of the New- York 
Seminary. From that time, Bishop Hobart has been a warm 
friend and advocate of the General Seminary, willing and 
ready, at all times, to promote and defend its interests. This 



• 21 

iact, Gentlemen, you, and others — you, the representatives of 
a Christian society, and others, the professed supporters of 
Christian principles — do him the injustice to blazon to the 
world, without one word of explanation of the very different 
circumstances which have rendered this change perfectly 
compatible with the consistency and integrity of his charac- 
ter. Will you allow one, who is old fashioned enough to 
think that there still lies upon the disciples of Christ, an 
obligation to conform to his golden rule, of doing to others 
as we would they should do to us, to endeavour to rescue 
his Bishop from the injurious imputations which you have 
thus sought to fix upon him ? 

In Bishop Hobart's Address to the New- York Convention 
of 1 82J, after noticing the operations, through the past year, 
of the Theological Seminary of that Diocese, he proceeds as 
follows : — 

" Connecting with these views of the subject, the great 
" respectability and importance of the State of New- York, 
tf and the increasing number and resources of the Episcopa- 
" lians in it, if I know myself, it is not the unworthy and 
" selfish views of a partizan— it is not even the more ex- 
" cusable local zeal of a Diocesan Bishop, which impel me 
" to cherish, with augmented solicitude, the opinion, that a 
" regard to the highest interests of our Church at large re- 
". quires that we cherish and preserve in this Diocese the 
" unrivalled means and advantages of theological instruction, 
" which, through the good Providence of God, we enjoy. 

" It is a cause of gratitude to him, that these means have 
u been enlarged to an extent that places the success of our 
" schools beyond all hazard, by the munificent bemiest of the 
" late Mr. Sherred. To benefactions of this description are 
" the nations of Europe in a great measure indebted for 
" those literary and religious institutions which constitute 
< c their just pride, and from which perennially flow the in- 
u valuable blessings of science and of religion. It is the ob- 
" vious policy of our own country, in which institutions of 
; ' this description are obstructed in their usefulness by their 
" circumscribed resources— a policy, too, demanded by the 
:i freedom of her governments, which Jay as few restraints 
" as possible on individual rights— to cherish that generous 
tf and liberal zeal by which private property is made to mini* 
il ster to the public good, and to perpetuate its bounties to 
" the latest generations. The memory, then, of our benefi- 
;t cent benefactor, should be gratefully cherished, not more 
" by the friends of science and religion, than by the patriot, 
;l who regards the prosperity of bis country a? inseparably 



28 

u and vitally connected with these highest objects of human 
" regard — and the prayer should be offered to him, with 
iC whom are the hearts of all men, that the spirit which dic- 
" tated this liberal benefaction may animate others to cor- 
<c responding acts of benevolence. 

" The legacy of Mr. Sherred has, however, given rise to 
" measures which may possibly lead to a collision between 
u our Theological School and the general institution. A 
" special meeting of the General Convention of our Church 
*' has been called for the purpose of taking into considera- 
( * tion the last will and testament of Mr. Sherred, and of 
" determining whether any and what measures should be 
u taken for obtaining the legacy bequeathed by him. What 
" will be the result of the deliberations of this Convention, 
u it is impossible to ascertain. It would seem, however, 
" that they would resolve to relinquish the claim of the 
" general seminary to the legacy— or to assert it, and for 
" this purpose to bring the general seminary into this Dio- 
" cese — or that they would prefer what may be styled a 
" compromise— a consolidation of the General Theological 
" Seminary with our Diocesan School, so as to make one 
" general institution in this State — or, finally, that they will 
" relinquish the project of a general seminary. 

" That little dependence can be placed on the validity of 
" the claim of the general seminary to the legacy of Mr. 
" Sherred, would appear from what is understood to be the 
" fact, that no legal gentleman consulted on behalf of that 
" seminary, has given a decided opinion in favour of it. 
" The eminently respectable legal opinions which will be 
" laid before you, will show the strength of the claim of the 
4t Theological School of this Diocese, and will serve- to re- 
" move all apprehension that it can be wrested from us by 
" the general institution. It would seem improbable, then, 
" that the General Convention will resolve to assert their 
&t claim, and for this purpose establish in this Diocese a ge- 
" neral seminary on independent ground. They will, per- 
" haps, conclude to relinquish the project of a general semi- 
" nary, in consequence of the difficulty of uniting the dis» 
ki connected exertions of Episcopalians through this extensive 
" country in favour of a general institution, and of the evi» 
" dence of a disposition, which I always supposed would be 
il manifested* to establish diocesan institutions-— one of this 
i{ description having been organized by a society embracing 
" the Episcopalians of Virginia and a proportion of those of 
*' Maryland. \i^ however, the sentiment in favour of a ge* 
4 neral institution should still prevail, it is then probable 



u that a union of the general seminary with our diocesan 
"-one will be proposed. And this is a subject which may 
" merit our serious consideration. 

" On the one hand, it cannot be supposed that this Con- 
" vention will relinquish the arrangements so unanimously 
" settled at the last Convention, and any essential provisions 
" relative to our diocesan schools, so as to place our re- 
" sources entirely beyond our own control. On the other, 
" the consideration must be admitted to have weight, that 
" the dignity, order, and harmony of the Church, as well as 
" the respectability of the general institution, may be ad- 
" vanced by the proposed union. One objection to applying 
" the resources of the Church in this Diocese has always 
i; been — the possibility of its removal. But to this the le- 
" gacy of Mr. Sherred, which would be forfeited if the 
" seminary were removed from the State, presents one 
" barrier, and others might be provided. Another objection 
" to the general seminary is, that, as at present consti- 
" tuted, it might be entirely under the control of a very 
" small minority of the Church at large, and even of those 
" who have not contributed, or in a very small proportion, 
' 4 to its funds. In case, however, of a union, such an or- 
" ganization of the general seminary might be made as to 
" secure to every part of the Church a just influence in its 
" management. And the plan might be formed of such a 
" nature as to remove all the reasonable objections to a 
u general institution in this Diocese, and to secure all our 
" important arrangements with respect to our own institu- 
" tions. Permit me to suggest whether it would not be well 
" to be prepared for such an event. For this Convention, 
" however, to settle the detail of this plan, would, on many 
" accounts, be inexpedient, inasmuch as subsequent consulta- 
" tion at the General Convention might render other details 
" advisable, and definitive arrangements on our part, appear- 
" ing to preclude consultation, might present a barrier to any 
" conciliatory project. Still it would seem necessary that 
" something definitive should now be done. The plan of 
" compromise or of union would require an alteration of the 
" constitution of our Theological Education Society. This 
" must be the joint act of the Trustees of the Society and of 
" the Convention. The alterations necessary in case of a 
f l union cannot be known until after the meeting of the Ge- 
" neral Convention. To call special meetings of the Trus- 
" tees of the Society, and of our State Convention, in order 
u to determine on the propriety of the plan, or the necessary 
^ alterations, would be 5 on many accounts, inexpedient, and 



30 

rt perhaps, in reference to our Convention, almost hnprao 
tc ticable ; since it can be hardly expected that the Clergy 
" and Lay Delegates would so soon assemble from every 
" part of this large State. To delay definitive measures 
" until the next Convention would be also highly inexpedi- 
" ent, inasmuch as this would still further postpone active 
" measures for the great objects of theological education, 
" which, from various causes, have been too long delayed; 
" and might oppose new obstacles to the settlement of a 
61 question which every friend to the peace, order, and dig- 
" nity of the Church, must wish to see as speedily as possible 
" put to rest. 

" Under these circumstances, it would appear advisable 
" for this Convention to adopt such measures as may admit 
" of a union between the two schools, on principles which 
" will secure all the essential arrangements with regard to 
" our theological schools, and the just influence of those 
" parts of the Church who may contribute to the general 
" institution, in its concerns. 

" My Clerical and Lay Brethren, 

" In all the views which I have stated, I have acted under 
" that deep sense of duty to the Church which I should 
" always cherish, and with that frankness which becomes my 
" station, and which is most agreeable to my feelings, and 
" which, I trust, is not contrary to your expectations. Should 
" the General Convention choose to relinquish the project of 
" a general seminary, and even persevere in it, and not lo- 
" cate the school in this Diocese, we can go on with our 
" diocesan institution. Should they contest our claim to the 
" legacy in question, we shall, I presume, decorously, but 
u firmly, assert it. And should they propose the course of 
" compromise on correct principles, I trust we shall be pre- 
" pared to meet it in the spirit of conciliation and candour, 
" and with our fervent prayers, that our Lord and Master 
" would direct and overrule all our consultations and plans 
" for the good of his Church and Kingdom." 

This part of the Bishop's Address was referred to a Com- 
mittee, from whose Report, which was accepted by the Con- 
vention, I make the following extract : : — 

" On the subject of any arrangement for a consolidation of 
" the Seminary thus established under the authority of the 
" Convention of this State, with one to be permanently esta- 
" blished in this diocese, under the authority of the General 
" Convention, in case that body should deem this measure 
a to be expedient, the Committee are of opinion, that an ar- 



31 

11 rangement of this nature would be desirable, and ought 
" to be carried into effect, if it can be done upon fair and 
" correct principles, so as to preserve all the essential pro- 
" visions and regulations of our diocesan seminary, aod to 
" secure a just influence in the government and control of 
" the general institution to each Diocese within which contri- 
" butions may be obtained towards its funds." 

The following resolution, introduced by the same Com- 
mittee, was passed by the Convention : — 

" Resolved, that this Convention will concur in any pro- 
" per plan for consolidating the said" (the New- York) kt se- 
H minarv with any seminary, for the like purpose, which the 
" General Convention may. in its wisdom, see fit to establish, 
" and permanently fix, within this Diocese, all the essential 
" provisions and regulations of the seminary now established, 
" under the authority of the Convention of this State, being 
" preserved, and a ju3t influence in the management and 
" control of the general institution being secured to each 
" Diocese within which contributions may be obtained, ordo- 
" nations made, towards its funds. Provided that the terms 
" of such consolidation be approved by the Bishop of this 
*' Diocese, and the clerical and lay deputies from the Con- 
u vention of the Church in this State, to the approaching 
" special General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal 
" Church in the United States ; and that those terms be sub- 
u mitted to, and also approved by, the Trustees of the Pro- 
i( testant Episcopal Theological Education Society in the 
" State of New- York, or the Board of Managers acting un- 
" der their authority." 

The special General Convention met at Philadelphia. 
The business of the Theological Seminary was referred to a 
Committee of both Houses. A constitution for that semin- 
ary, previously agreed on by the Bishop and clerical and lay 
deputies of New-York, and by a Committee of the Mana- 
gers of the New- York Seminary, appointed to be in Phila- 
delphia at the^same time, to co-operate with the Bishop and 
deputies, was laid before the Committee of the Convention, 
and after certain modifications, which also were approved by 
the Bishop, deputies, and committee above mentioned, was 
reported to each House. In the House of Bishops it was 
adapted unanimously ; and in the House of Clerical and Lay 
Deputies, by a very large majority, after a full and free dis- 
cussion, in which it was principally and most ably advocated 
hy a distinguished layman from North-Carolina, whose i^ 
vacter and talents are an ornament alike to the civil and the 
religious communities of which he is a member. 



By this Constitution, the seminary assumed an entirel 
new shape, which removed some of the most formidable ob- 
jections heretofore entertained against a General Seminary* 
The Board of Trustees is so organized as to allow to each 
Diocese a just share of influence in the management of the 
institution; that is, a share proportioned to the number of 
its clergy, and the amount of its contributions ; and the Ge- 
neral Convention cannot alter the Constitution without a 
concurrent vote of the Board of Trustees, in which the 
Church at large is fairly represented. 

This last provision, it is obvious, must shut out from the 
Convention much of the unpleasant discussion of which there 
must have been great danger, when, at every meeting, it was 
sompetent to new-model or remove the seminary at pleasure* 

Take a view, gentlemen, for a moment, of the state of the 
case now presented. 

The main objections to the General Seminary are removed: 
A strong desire of conciliation and compromise has manifested 
itself in both Houses of Convention. They have acted with 
astonishing unanimity. The delightful hope is cherished in 
almost every breast, and expressed by almost every tongue, 
that now all differences on the momentous subject of theolo- 
gical education will be dropped ; and our whole Church act 
in full accord, and with its undivided energies. The vener- 
able presiding Bishop, with whose wise and prudent counsels 
that Church has been blessed since its first organization — 
who, for nearly forty years, has been actively and anxiously 
engaged in its concerns, expresses, in terms, and with emo- 
tions, appealing most powerfully to the virtuous and pious 
sensibilities of the members, his feelings of joy and gratitude 
on the prospect thus opened to our Church. Would yon, 
gentlemen, have excused Bishop Hobart, if he now hesitated 
a single moment in dropping at once all minor objections, 
and entering, with his whole soul, on a cause which thus, in 
the course of Divine Providence, had been commended to 
his peculiar care, and enlisted him in peculiar responsibili- 
ties and exertions ? Will you not approve the principle 
which produced, throughout our Church, a general.feeling of 
surprise and regret, when, in less than a year after the effect- 
ing of such happy results, the Convention of the Diocese of a 
Bishop who was among the warmest and most active friends 
of the new constitution of the seminary, contrary to his ex- 
pressed sentiments and wishes, and chiefly under the influ- 
ence of a few young Deacons, organized an independent lo- 
cal seminary? And did you not participate in the satisfac- 
tion and joy which were felt, when the subsequent Conven- 






33 



tion of the same Diocese, coming out in the full strength of 
its talent, in the full ardour of its pious devotion to the pros- 
perity and unity of the Redeemer's kingdom, and under 
what has ever been, by the divine appointment and blessing, 
and particularly in those days of primitive purity when the 
Church was the most evangelical in its principles and order, 
a chief mean of that prosperity and unity, the influence of a 
good and faithful Bishop, arrested this work of confusion and 
discord ? And do von wonder, gentlemen, that when the 
Church had just congratulated itself, and raised the pious tri- 
bute of its thanks to its Divine Head, that this threatened 
source of disunion in its counsels, and division among its 
members, was so promptly removed, we should so soon hear 
that in another Diocese, whose union with our General 
Convention was hailed with joy by us all, in which we all 
felt an interest, and which we thought we had every reason 
to expect would be moulded upon those true principles of 
ecclesiastical order, which would make it ever to be depend- 
ed upon as the friend and promoter of the counsels which 
were generally deemed the best for the interests of the 
Church — do you wonder that when here,- without one word 
of previous intimation, and without one effort to seek the be- 
nefit of theological instruction through the medium of the ge- 
neral institution which the Church had established for the 
purpose, we found the project of an independent seminary 
suddenly started, and at once saw the Bishop of the Diocese 
on the wing to bear to our mother Church the disgraceful 
tidings that her American daughter is so hardened against 
the neeessities of a portion of her own household, that its only 
hope is in foreign bounty — I say, Gentlemen, do you wonder 
that a feeling of utter astonishment, and of heartfelt regret, 
should have been excited in the great body of your fellow- 
members of the American Church ? 

In one particular, indeed, the Ohio project differs from that 
above mentioned. The latter was the work of a Convention 
in opposition to their Bishop. The former is a plan of the 
Bishop independently of the Convention. For although your 
friends and advocates, the conductors of the Washington 
Theological Repertory, give your Convention the credit of 
resolving upon having a Theological Seminary, and seuding 
your Bishop, as its agent, to England, they are as unfortu- 
nate here in point of fact, as they are generally, on this sub- 
ject, in their inferences and elucidations. I look in vain into 
the Journal of your Convention for any evidence in favour of 
their assertion ; and would be obliged to them to point it 
out. 



si 

Perhaps, however, 1 have discovered that evidence else* 
where. I have just read again the document, signed by hte 
clergy, which Bishop Chase has published in page 15 of his 
letter. That, I think, furnishes some apology for the error 
of the Repertory. It would indeed appear from that instru- 
ment, that the mission of Bishop Chase (and perhaps the gen- 
tlemen at Washington might have concluded, therefore, the es- 
tab lis hment of a Theological Seminary ) was resolved on by 
the Convention. This appearance, however, must be a fal- 
lacious one, or your Journal must be wrong ; for I have again 
inspected it, and can see nothing of either. 

You, too, Gentlemen, have contributed to this erroneous 
impression* In page 13 of your pamphlet, speaking of Bi- 
shop Chase's mission, you say— -" We assert, most unequivo- 
kt caify, the purity of motive which actuated our Convention 
" and our Bishop." Now here is a clear intimation that your 
Convention acted on the subject* This is not so, or youF 
Secretary is a very careless One* 

Bishop Chase has, indeed, the approbation, and something 
like the appointment, of hisClergy ; but the Convention has 
not yet been heard on the subject. The Missionary Society 
did indeed appoint the Bishop* } s son, the Rev. Philander 
Chase, jun. as its agent to England. But the appointment of 
the Bishop by the Convention is a very different affair, and 
one which, on the authority of the minutes of the Conven- 
tion, I have no hesitation in saying, never occurred. 

Your proposed seminary, then, cannot claim the advantage 
of the acknowledged principle that every Diocesan Conven- 
tion has a right to establish such an institution. 

But let it be supposed that every thing in reference to this 
subject had been duly and orderly conducted ; and that the 
Convention, upon mature deliberation, had resolved that a 
Theological Seminary in Ohio was expedient and necessary— 
not a branch school, to be solicited of the General Seminary, 
but an independent diocesan school — and that as no reliance 
could be placed on the sister Dioceses for aid, the Bishop 
must forthwith go to England, and there say, that if the 
Church of England will not extend to the Church in Ohio a 
portion of that bounty, all of which is needed in the British 
provinces, it must die :— I say, suppose that your Convention 
had done all this in due form ; still, although the question of 
constitutionality and abstract right could not be started, that 
of expediency would be fully open. 

I grant, Gentlemen, that your Convention would have an 
undeniable right to answer this question for themselves. But 
surely the establishment of a Diocesan Theological School^ 



35 

after the General Convention, with very great unanimity;, 
had instituted a General one, upon principles calculated to 
interest the whole Church, and to extend its benefits to the 
•whole, and which, therefore, would naturally lead to the con- 
clusion, either that the General Seminary was insufficient, or 
that it would exercise a partiality unfavourable to Qhio, the 
members of the Church at large have also a right to take part 
in the decision of that question. This is especially the case, 
when the contemplated project also professes to include the 
Church in many States and Territories, with which the Bi» 
shop and Convention of Ohio have no more concern than the 
Bishop and Convention of any other Diocese ; and still more 
so, when the unprecedented step is to be taken of presenting 
a portion of the American Church as a suppliant for the bounty 
of a foreign nation ; and that nation^ which is amalgamated 
with our mother Church, is thus to be virtually told that we 
will do nothing for a suffering portion of our own family, 

I hope, Gentlemen, thai a Presbyter of a sister Diocese will 
not incur the heavy displeasure of the Wardens and Vestry 
of Christ Church, Cincinnati, if, conscious of no other mo- 
tive than a deep solicitude for the honour and welfare of our 
common Church, he presumes to think that he may say a 
word on the expediency of these measures in Ohio. 

The reasons which present themselves to my mind as the 
most substantial ones for having a local Theological Seminary, 
under the present just and impartial constitution of the ge- 
neral one, are— *-the number of students in any particular por- 
tion of the Church—the inconvenience or impracticability of 
their attending the General Seminary— the unfitness of the 
education which they would receive at this Seminary — and 
the danger of its exercising an influence unfavourable to their 
return and settlement in their own part of the country. 
These, 1 believe, include the principal, if not all, the reasons 
which have been urged in this particular case. 

The first — the number of students in Ohio— has, of course, 
not been advanced ; and I think I may with confidence ap- 
peal to yourselves, gentlemen, to say whether there is any 
probability that, at least for many years to come, it will 
exist. 

As to the inconvenience or impracticability of the students 
attending the General Seminary, it is but an instance of what 
every day obtrudes itself upon our notice, that nothing in 
this world can be perfect. Some difficulties and objections 
must be encountered on every subject. Place a seminary 
where you will, access to it will be attended with insur- 
mountable difficulties to some. Even a seminary in even 



36 

state would not effectually remove them. There would still 
be young men of great worth and excellence, who must re- 
main at home, because their support there will be less bur- 
densome than elsewhere, or because their assistance may be 
necessary for the support of the family. It is obvious that 
this particularly applies to a seminary for " the Western 
" States." Locate it in what part of Ohio you will, it will 
be removed from many for whose benefit it is designed, at 
quite as great, or a greater distance, than New- York is from 
Ohio. And the objection applies, with equal force, to other 
Dioceses as to Ohio, 

Difficulties of inconvenient distance, then, must be en- 
countered upon every plan. But, say you, they may be 
greatly diminished. True. We may have seminaries in 
many or in all of our Dioceses, and in different parts of the 
lax*ger ones. But are there not essential advantages in a Ge- 
neral Seminary more than sufficient to counterbalance all the 
difficulties connected with it? Will not such a seminary pro- 
vide the means of removing these difficulties f 

A General Seminary will, of course, have the advantage 
over every local one in the choice of professors, being always 
able to enlist the services of the most competent. It will 
have the advantage in the important particular of a library. 
And I would remark, that our General Seminary has already 
one most respectable for both the number and nature of the 
works which it contains ; and which is daily increasing. A 
General Seminary derives all the great advantages accruing 
from that principle of our nature which renders mutual en- 
gagement in any pursuit a powerful mutual aid therein. A 
considerable number of young men, prosecuting together the 
same studies, must be attended with beneficial effects to 
each. The mutual interchange of sentiment in a large body 
of students, has a natural tendency to excite investigation, 
and increase knowledge. Mutual criticism must be greatly 
useful. The concentration of young men from all parts of 
the country enlarges the sphere of religious intelligence. And 
lam happy to say that the students of the General Seminary 
have lately organized a plan for the regular receipt of such 
intelligence from all parts of our own Church, and from the 
Church of England. 

With regard to the particular location of the General Se- 
minary, I presume it will not be denied that much real benefit 
must flow from its being in a city where the Episcopal 
Church ranks high in public estimation, and is very numer- 
ous ; where the society of at least twenty clergymen of that 
Church can be enjoyed, and the students have the advantage 



37 



of hearing a variety of preachers ; where books are easily 
accessible ; and where the celebration, not only of the stated, 
but also of the occasional, services of our ritual may often be 
witnessed. I should humbly conceive that the frequent op- 
portunities there afforded the students of witnessing the 
deeply interesting and affecting services of ordination, s^> 
powerfully calculated to enlist their anxieties and prayers on 
the momentous subject of those services being to be perform- 
ed in their own case—of their being to make those solemn 
declarations and vows, and take upon themselves the awful 
responsibilities there so fully and feelingly set forth, would of 
itself constitute, in the estimation of the pious Christian, and 
the faithful and conscientious clergyman, a very great colla- 
teral advantage of an education in the General Seminary. 

As not inconsiderable among the advantages of this institu- 
tion, may be named its possessing, through the munificence 
of one of its professors, a most eligible site for buildings, now 
quite retired from the thick, population of the city, and so 
large as to remain airy, retired, and healthy, even in the 
event of the probable spread of that population to its vicinity. 
The trustees, it is hoped, will soon be enabled to erect, on this 
desirable spot, such buildings as are immediately necessary. 

But I would not omit another consideration, to which, if I 
do not greatly mistake the influence which the known Church 
principles of their Bishop must have had in informing their's, 
our brethren of Ohio cannot be indifferent. It is, that con- 
sidering all the circumstances connected with the history of 
our General Seminary, and especially with its present organ- 
ization, and the feelings and hopes which this excited in the 
best and most enlightened friends of the Church, the support 
of that seminary will indicate a love of harmony, and a desire 
to promote the unity and prosperity of the Zion of our God. 

Are there not, then, gentlemen, great advantages in the 
General Seminary more than sufficient to counterbalance the 
inconvenience of distance to which several Dioceses, and 
parts, indeed, of the very Diocese in which it is located, are 
exposed ?* And may it not be hoped, that inconveniences will 
be gladly suffered sooner than risk the loss or diminution of 
so great benefits to the Church? 

But you will say that besides the distance, there is the dif- 
kculty of the very great expense necessarily incurred by 
sending students to reside in New- York. 



* It ought to be mentioned here, that arrangements are in progress, 
-which, it is expected, will lead to the speedy abrogation of the Bra 
School at Geneva. 



38 

This imagined evil has been very unduly magnified. The 
expenses of the students in New- York are by no means as 
great as they have been represented to be. I have reason to be- 
lieve, from what I have heard, that $1 50 will more than cover 
$11 the expenses of a student for one seminary year, excepting 
clothing, which can be had at least as reasonably in New- 
York as in any other place. There are few young men who 
have not the means of meeting a part of this expense ; and 
the proper patronage of the seminary will soon allow it to 
extend all necessary help, by placing such students as require 
it in scholarships, or extending to them occasional aid. An 
average contribution of fifteen or twenty dollars a year from 
each parish in the United States, would be more than suffi- 
cient for the entire support of twenty students, or for the par* 
tial assistance of a proportionate number. This plain matter 
of fact view of the subject is due to truth; although it may 
have the mortifying effect of placing in their merited ligh£ 
all the fine flourishes we have heard of the enormous ex- 
penses of a great metropolis. 

But you will say that there are worthy young men in Ohio 
who cannot afford any part of the expense of attending the 
seminary ; and that its funds are not yet equal to their sup- 
port. What are they to do ? Precisely what many simi- 
larly situated young men in other Dioceses have to do : and 
what all our candidates for orders have had to do, ever since 
the Church was first introduced into this country— the best 
they can, with such clerical aid and counsel as they can obtain. 
Meanwhile, let every portion of the Church exert itself, ac- 
cording to its ability, to enable the General Seminary to re- 
medy this difficulty. Let him that hath much give plente- 
ously, and him that hath little give gladly of that little, and 
abundant means for this valuable end will soon be afford- 
ed. The less wealthy Dioceses may rest assured that there 
will be no indisposition in the others to let them share in the 
appropriation of their more abundant means. Two candi- 
dates for orders in other Dioceses, now in the General Se- 
minary, have had appropriated to them, from funds belonging 
to this Diocese, S 100 each, for the current year — an appro- 
priation which will undoubtedly be continued, if necessary, 
during their term of study. Two sums raised for the purpose ? 
in the city of New- York, at different times, were appropri- 
ated to necessitous students, without a single inquiry as to 
whence they came. 

And allow me, gentlemen, to suggest, that if, at a small 
portion of the expense incurred by your Bishop's present pro- 
ject, he, and the clerical and lay deputies of Ohio, had takep, 



6 



their respective places in the meetings of the General Con- 
vention, of the Trustees of the General Theological Semi- 
nary, and of the General Missionary Society and its Board of 
Directors, and there urged the necessities and claims of Ohio, 
and what they knew of those of the other Western States, it 
would have produced a most powerful effect in your favour ; 
and led, I doubt not, to exertions in your behalf, which, even 
in your estimation, would have superseded the necessity of 
the measures which now disgrace our Church in the view of 
foreigners ; and which would have made our Zion appear in- 
deed as a city that is at unity in itself — the more favoured 
parts feeling for, and relieving, the more necessitous. 

Your Diocese has always been an object of interest to the 
Church at large. To enable you to elect a Bishop, the General 
Conventionof 18 17 passed a canon, suspending,in your favour, 
the operation of a former canon, requiring six Presbyters in 
a Diocese before it can have a Bishop. And when, agreeably 
to- the facility thus given, you had chosen a Bishop, and he 
Was consecrated, the subsequent General Convention re- 
pealed the canon of 1817, upon the express ground that i(s 
object was answered. The circumstances connected with 
the consecration of your Bisjiop drew forth much anxiety and 
much exertion in your b#ialf. Your Bishop's appeal, a few 
years since, to the Atlantic States, was heard with much sym- 
pathy, and answered with much liberality. Depend upon it, 
it is a most unjust and ungenerous imputation which has 
been cast upon our Church at large, by the resolution, sud- 
denly taken, and as suddenly put in operation, in your por- 
tion of it, to look, as your only resource, to foreign aid for 
your support. Very unkind is the charge your Bishop has 
brought against the " Episcopalians in the Atlantic States, 5 ' 
that if their brethren of Ohio " had indulged the temerity to 
" apply to them" in their necessities, they would " have 
been repulsed."* We could have hoped that that Right 
Rev. Gentleman had seen too much of the good disposition 
of those Episcopalians towards his Diocese, to have allowed 
him to indulge in so severe an imputation. Let the substan- 
tial evidences of this disposition be brought into one view, 
in the following extract from Bishop Hobart's Letter :— 
" With respect to the neglect of your Diocese, you will cer» 
" tainly recollect that g3G00 were collected by your son for 
" your missionary purposes, $1300 were raised in this city, 
" and some of the remainder in other parts of this State : 
" that the early exertions of a Missionary Society in Perm- 
* sylvania probably laid the foundation of the Church in 
* Bishop Chase's Letter, p. 14. 



40 

" Ohio ; and that the General Missionary Society have, as I 
" am informed, recently granted to you $400." 

But there is another very surprising clause in this part of 
your Bishop's Letter. His reason for thinking that the 
members of his Diocese would be repulsed in any solicita- 
tion for the aid of their Eastern brethren, is because " their 
" own institution languisheth." Now I will not stop to in- 
quire what effect the Bishop might have wished should be 
produced by the term '- languisheth" which, by the way, 
the actual state of the seminary renders entirely inappli- 
cable. My concern is with the expression " their own 
" institution." Pray, whose institution r* Is not Ohio a part 
of the general Church ? And does not the seminary belong 
to that Church ? It is true, indeed, your Diocese has never 
had either Bishop or delegate in either of the three General 
Conventions held since its organization. But has it, there- 
fore, no part nor lot in the Church to which those Conven- 
tions belong? The General Seminary is yours as well as 
ours. Your Bishop is a Trustee and Visitor ex- officio ; and 
your last Convention elected its representative Trustees, 
What, then, could your Bishop mean by the expression, 
" their own institution ?" 

Before I leave the head of expeflfee, I will incidentally no- 
tice, that the support of professors is indeed an item involving 
considerably greater expense in New-York than it would in 
some other places. But it may confidently be asked, whether 
the Episcopalians of the United States, who are in posses- 
sion of so much of the wealth of the country, will let this be 
a serious objection to their availing themselves of the many 
advantages that city affords to the great nursery of their 
Church ? 

But it will be said that the education received in the Ge- 
neral Seminary would not fit your young men for proper use- 
fulness in Ohio. Not, it is presumed, that there is any thing 
in the plan of instruction, or in its execution, which you con- 
sider otherwise than calculated to make able and faithful 
ministers of the New Testament. They have both, from a 
deliberate consideration of them, and from a witnessing of 
their actual effects, and the former in England as well as 
this country, received encomiums from quarters too high 
and respectable, to allow them to suffer from any imputa- 
tions which may be cast upon them. 

But it may be thought that the seminary course is unne- 
cessarily extensive for fitting Clergymen for the West; and 
especially, the circumstance of young men having to come 
to a large city to receive this instruction, is, it is said, un- 



4i 

favourable to their proper training for usefulness in remote 
and retired parts of the country, where peculiar labour and 
self-denial await the faithful and conscientious Clergyman. 

Much stress has been laid upon this idea, and great ad- 
vantage taken of the sanction given to it from so respectable 
a quarter as the Bishop of South-Carolina. Accustomed as I 
have long been, to pay deference to the opinions of that ex- 
cellent prelate, as of one thinking correctly, and acting con- 
sistently, on all questions relating to the honour and welfare 
of our Church, it is not without diffidence that I feel myself 
compelled respectfully to think that the expression of his 
views on this subject, in his letter to Bishop Chase, of which 
so much use has been made, is stronger than is justified by 
fact, or consistent with salutary principle. 

The exercise of the ministry in Ohio is compared to " a 
"mission to the Western Ocean Islands." The necessity 
of an indigenous education to the ministry in that Diocese, 
and in the other interior States, is considered as great as 
that of " Clergymen" in " Wales" being " Welchmen." A 
periodical publication in New- York,* devoted to non-episco- 
pal interests, but occasionally noticing the concerns of our 
Church, taking up the same idea, thus expresses it : — " Not 
Pf more momentous to the success of missions, is the raising 
" up and training of native teachers in India, and the various 
" countries of the East, than the affording of facilities for 
" teaching and preparing a race of Clergy from among the 
" inhabitants of our extensive western regions." 

Now although it must be confessed that the march of 
civilization, refinement, and science, is from the Atlantic 
coast westward, and that consequently the western portion 
of our country, both entire States, and parts of Atlantic 
States, is expected to be behind the Eastern in these par- 
ticulars ; yet I humbly conceive that it is painting the fact in 
far too strong colours, to compare those western regions 
with the countries of barbarous and unchristian men, or 
even with that section of Great-Britain, between which and 
the neighbouring country, a different ancestry, a different 
language, and a multitude of peculiar traditional and pre- 
scriptive usages, keep up, even at the present day, a broad 
distinction. 

It is indeed a sound proposition, that there ought to be 
" an adaptation of character to circumstances in the minis- 
P try."t And it is a proposition of universal application. 

* The Christian Herald. 

| Bishop Bowen's Letter to Bishop Chaw?.. 

6 



42 

But I would respectfully suggest, that in this country there is 
danger of its being carried, in operation, to an injurious ex- 
tent. I have witnessed much evil as the result of the prin- 
ciple, that there may, in the cases of some candidates for 
orders, be a lower grade of required qualification than in 
those of others, because of their being calculated for useful- 
ness in certain stations, I have known young men admitted 
into holy orders on this principle, speciali gratia, and as it 
was thought, for the good of the Church, finding that they 
have some popular qualifications, and perhaps (for humble- 
ness of mind and of talent are, J)y no means, always con- 
nected) not sensible of any inferiority to their brethren in 
the ministry, aiming at stations of importance in the Church, 
and sometimes obtaining them, to her serious injury. At 
least, their ordination places them on a footing of equality 
with the best educated divines, as to right of membership 
in the councils of the Church ; where they are often not 
wanting in a sufficient degree of boldness and of confidence 
in their ill-advised and ill-digested schemes. 

Ordination makes a man the minister, not of any particu- 
lar Parish or Diocese, but of the Church at large ; and there 
is no shadow of security that the certain situations in which 
it is hoped young men will be useful, and with a view to 
which they may be particularly trained, will long content 
them. The degree of preparation, therefore, for the minis- 
try, I humbly conceive, should be governed by general prin- 
ciples, and not with a view to securing usefulness in any 
particular sphere. Adaptation to that sphere will not thus 
be less secured ; while the general interests of the Church 
will be much more effectually guarded. 

I have long thought, too, that there is another serious er- 
ror on this subject. It has been very common to suppose, 
that any one would do to send into the western country. 
Now, although I have seen but little of that country, and 
nothing beyond the bounds of this State ; yet I am per- 
suaded, from intelligence from various parts of our Western 
States and territories, that this is a great mistake, and has 
been no small injury to the Church. Those regions are 
getting fast peopled by the enterprising natives of the East, 
carrying with them much natural strength of intellect, and 
acuteness of observation, and often no small share of mental 
cultivation ; or by the younger branches of the old and well 
educated families of the South, adapting the state of society, 
as far as possible, to that which they have left. Colleges, and 
other seminaries of learning, are rapidly increasing. In the 
cities and larger towns and villages, all the refinements of so- 



43 

ciety are introduced. Men of talents are adorning the learned 
professions, and civil offices. The daily increasing facilities 
of intercourse with the Atlantic States, are fast breaking 
down the distinctions between old and new settlements. 

But let me not be mistaken. I know that there are yet, 
in the West, immense forests to be subdued ; and that in 
large tracts of country, the population is still sparse and 
rude. But these are evils every day mending. It is not 
possible that any portion of the American Republic, afford- 
ing the least encouragement to enterprise and industry, can 
long remain in this state. What immense, and almost in- 
credible, changes have the last twenty years produced ? 
They are still going on. The mountains and forests, mag- 
nified into such formidable barriers of separation between 
the eastern and western portions of our country, are now 
becoming little heeded. The latter are yielding to the sub- 
duing march of enterprise and industry. The former are 
rendered passable with daily increasing facilities. And the 
great waters which wash our western regions, and penetrate 
into the very heart of them, being made to mingle with those 
of the Atlantic, are affording means of easy intercourse with 
each other, which makes us disregard the distance at which 
these sections of our Republic are separated. The inhabit- 
ants of each will more and more mingle with those of the 
other. They will feel and own common interests, and mu- 
tual dependence. They will be united in affinity,, consan- 
guinity, and all the social ties* Removals from one to the 
other will be of ordinary occurrence. Whatever distinction 
of character still remains, must constantly diminish. 

From these considerations, may it not be fairly inferred 
that there is no more call for any permanent arrangement 
for the education of a special ministry for the Western States, 
than for any other portion of our country ? Will it not be 
the same thing, and attended with all the same disadvant- 
ages, as allowing, any where else, a dispensation from the 
ordinarily required qualifications, because of fitness for use- 
fulness in certain spheres f Clergymen from the East will 
continue to go, as they have gone, to the West, Those from 
the West will, if circumstances call for it, come to the East* 
These removals will be becoming daily more and more fre- 
quent. One standard of preparation for all, will be found 
the most conducive to the general unity and welfare of the 
Church. 

Will it not, too, operate much to the discredit and disad- 
vantage of our Church in the West, to have a peculiar grade 
of preparation for the Clergy there .? In the refinements. 



44 

generally, of civilization, in the cultivation of literature, sci- 
ence, and the arts, and in the qualifications for the medical 
and legal professions, the high standards established in the 
older sections of the country, are made the objects of un- 
ceasing effort. Let not the Church be behind in its endea- 
vours for improvement. 

But residence in a large city, it is said, is unfavour- 
able to the cultivation of those peculiar properties which 
are to fit men for the labours and privations attendant on 
the ministry in new settlements. These labours and priva- 
tions are by no means peculiar to Ohio. They are to be 
found in every State in the Union. I have just glanced my 
eye over the list of the Clergy of our Church in the United 
States, in Swords's Almanack for the present year. I per- 
ceive the names of sixty-two, who received their education, 
in whole or in part, in the city of New-York. By far the 
greater portion of them are active and laborious country 
Clergymen in various States. This fact, I humbly conceive, 
is by no means irrelevant. 

It is a great mistake, that because young men are educated 
in a large city, therefore they must become unfit to move in 
plainer and more retired spheres. The truth is, more real 
retirement may be had in a large city than in most villages 
and small towns. The students are not drawn from their 
studies to mix much with society. What they do see of so- 
ciety is but a salutary recreation, and calculated to have a 
favourable influence, in qualifying them for intercourse with 
the world. And more than may have this beneficial effect, 
they are not drawn off from immediate preparation for the 
ministry. Young men disposed to neglect their studies will, 
indeed, find pretences and means, every where, for wasting 
their time. And those who have many friends in the imme- 
diate vicinity of a seminary, be it where it may, and do not 
exercise a sufficient self discipline, may be often tempted to 
withdraw from their studies more hours than they otherwise 
would. But these are evils not peculiar to a seminary in a 
city; and which it is endeavoured to counteract, as far as 
possible, in the General Seminary, by such assignments of 
duty as leave little unnecessary leisure. And I have reason 
to believe, that in few seminaries of learning, in any branch, 
is study more faithfully and profitably prosecuted than in 
that. A young man from the country, disposed to learn—* 
and if he is not, he will learn no where — may attend to his 
studies as undividedly in the city of New- York as any where; 
and he will certainly do it under advantages which few, if 
any, other places can afford. 



45 

I would ask your Bishop, Gentlemen, whether he finds hia 
Clergy, almost all of whom, until their removal to Ohio, 
were unaccustomed to the hardships and privations there of 
which we hear so much, less devoted, less active, or less 
successful, than he could possibly expect them to be, had 
they been sons of the soil f — No : there may be a perfect 
adaptation of character to circumstances in the ministry, 
without a special education directed to that end. We may 
humbly trust, that, in the good providence of Almighty God, 
there will always be, among those whom he inwardly moves 
by his Holy Spirit to take upon them the office and work of 
the ministry, a due proportion qualified for each sphere of 
service which he has appointed in his Church. 

I may add, farther, that the arrangements, to which I be- 
fore alluded, now making by the students of the General 
Seminary, to gain intelligence respecting the Church in 
every part of our country, and indeed of the Christian world, 
will often bring before them such views as to excite, we may 
hope, in the breasts of many, an ardour for missionary labour, 
which, cherished and strengthened by mutual sympathy of 
feeling, and mutual encouragement and emulation, may be 
expected to be productive of the most beneficial effects to 
the Church in the new settlements of our country. 

As to the last objection — that there is danger of young 
men educated at the General Seminary not being willing to 
return to their former abodes in the country, but being lured 
from them by the more splendid prospects in the neighbour- 
hood of the seminary ; 1 conceive it to be merely theoretical, 
because it has not fact on which to be founded. Of the 
above-mentioned sixty-two Clergymen, educated in the city 
of New- York, but nineteen are settled in that city, or with- 
in fifty miles of it. The rest are settled in various States, 
from Maine to Georgia, inclusive. Of both these classes, i£ 
must be remembered that a considerable proportion be- 
longed originally to New-York and its vicinity. The like, 

I presume, may be said of Clergymen educated in other 
cities. 

Th'rs objection, however, cannot be better met, than in 
the words of the Committee on the Theological Seminary, 
appointed by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in 
the last General Convention. 

" There appears to be some apprehension on the part of 
u the more distant and less wealthy Dioceses, that the stu- 
* dents of the seminary will be induced to desert their pro- 
" per field of future labour, under the idea of having greater 

II advantages id the vicinity of the seminary. If such an ap- 



46 

" prehension does exist, your Committee are persuaded that 
<{ the silent influence of time will destroy the illusion. There 
" are no facts, as yet, hy which it can be supported ; and the 
" love of country, and the influence of early habits, will gra- 
" dually create, throughout the Union, an indigenous Qlergy. 
" There is no more reason to apprehend that candidates for 
" orders, educated at the General Theological Seminary, 
" will not return to their respective Dioceses, than that stu- 
" dents educated in the northern colleges should thereby be 
" alienated from home. If there be any danger, it is more 
" to be apprehended in the northern section of our country, 
" than in the southern. It may, however, be effectually 
{4 guarded against, by making the students candidates for 
" orders in their respective Dioceses, by greater exertions 
" to support the Clergy, which will diminish inducements to 
u emigration, and by enforcing the already existing regula- 
" tions, which require Deacons to be under the direction of 
" the Bishops who ordain them." 

But it may be said that all these remarks would do very 
well, if the General Seminary possessed the means of sup- 
porting, or efficiently aiding, the students from Ohio. But 
this cannot be expected for, at least, several years. What, 
in the mean time, are those students to do ? Just what all 
our theological students have had to do from the founda- 
tion of our Church, and what many other students have still 
to do. If they have the means of support, let them avail 
themselves of the great benefits of the General Seminary. 
If not, let their case be made known, and it may be, God 
will raise up friends to aid them. Some aid might immedi- 
ately be extended by the seminary, or its friends in New- 
York. If necessary, let them, as perhaps three-fourths of 
our candidates for orders have always done, and are still do- 
ing, devote certain hours to teaching. I have known young 
men, who, commencing under every possible disadvantage 
that even Ohio could afford, have fairly worked their way 
through a collegiate and theological course, and become 
most respectable and useful Clergymen. Meanwhile, let an 
united and vigorous effort be made, by every section of our 
Church, to afford her General Seminary the means of re- 
moving these acknowledged evils and inconveniences, which 
exist throughout our country. The remedy would then be 
speedy and sure. 

If, however, the application in behalf of Ohio had been 
made to domestic instead of foreign bounty — to the Trus- 
tees of the General Seminary ; depend upon it, the appli- 
cants would not — as your Bishop fears they would—" have 



47 

been repulsed." The Trustees are too much of gentle-* 
men and of Christians to be guilty of such conduct. Your 
cause would have been heard with great respect and deep 
interest. Something would have been done, which, under 
the influence of sound reason, and Christian conciliation, in 
both parties, might be expected to be mutually satisfactory. 
If it were thought that Ohio was not yet in a state to re- 
quire a permanent branch school, or to present an object of 
sufficient magnitude to justify the expense of one, perhaps 
some addition might have been made to your Bishop's in- 
come as President of Cincinnati College, on consideration 
of his superintending the studies of such young men as could 
not, with what assistance might be afforded, come to the 
General Seminary; and something might have been ex- 
tended to aid those thus under his care, who might require 
it. At all events, some treatment, very different from a 
repulse, should have been confidently expected. 

One objection has been made to the General Seminary by 
your friends of the Washington Repertory, to which it may 
not be amiss to give a moment's attention. They endeavour 
to excite hostility to it, because, on the subject of Bible 
Societies, formed by an union of all religious denominations, 
Bishop Hobart has deemed it his duty to cherish sentiments 
similar to those of three- fourths of the English, Irish, Scotch, 
and American Protestant Bishops, and candidly to avovr 
them, and consistently to act upon them. Are these gentle- 
men so ignorant of our ecclesiastical concerns as not to 
know, that among the warmest friends of the removal of the 
seminary to Bishop Hobart's Diocese, and its permanent 
location there ; and those who most justly appreciate the 
value of his superintendence and counsel in its concerns, 
are Bishops, Clergymen, and eminent Laymen, who differ 
from him in this particular ? They know, and the gentle- 
men of the Repertory ought to know, that Bishop Hobart 
would be above abusing the influence of station to pro- 
moting any of his peculiar views. He, to be sure, is never 
afraid to declare, nor unable to vindicate, those views; 
and if these gentlemen think it unsafe to place young men 
in the way of hearing all the reasons pro and con., they act 
certainly a prudent part in endeavouring to dissuade them 
from coming. But to the Trustees and Professors of the 
Seminary, among whom there are most respectable indi- 
viduals who do not think with Bishop Hobart in this par- 
ticular, and to every one who is, or has been, a student in 
the seminary, I confidently appeal, and confidently refer the 



48 

Editor of the Repertory, and his coadjutors, in support of 
the assertion, that that Right Rev. Professor has never at- 
tempted to enlist, in favour of his opinions on this subject, 
the influence of his chair. This far fetched effort to indulge 
a disposition for fault-finding cannot produce its desired 
effect. All the friends of these promiscuous institutions do 
cot manifest dispositions so hostile to the Bible cause to 
which they profess attachment, as to think that there cannot 
exist equal sincerity and ardour in devotion to that cause, 
among those who differ from them, as among those who 
agree with them, with regard to the proper mode of ad- 
vancing it. 

Of the missionary branch of your Bishop's project, I have 
yet said nothing. As far as Ohio itself is concerned, a dio- 
cesan institution is the most proper medium through which 
its wants should be supplied. The General Missionary So- 
ciety is established upon this principle. Its constitution pro- 
perly prohibits its operation in any organized Diocese, ex- 
cept in the way of placing funds at the disposal of the eccle- 
siastical authority of that Diocese. It has aided the Ohio 
Society. Individual contributors in various Atlantic States 
have done the same. I am happy to state, that New-York 
has been conspicuously liberal in this particular. Farther 
aid, if asked, would have been extended. There was no ne* 
cessity, and no just ground, for disgracing the American 
Church abroad by representing it as unwilling to assist a 
needy section of it. 

But when your kind assistance is tendered also to the im- 
mense regions composing " the Western States," 1 would 
respectfully suggest, that as your own immediate house- 
hold is in such crying necessity, it would have been most 
wise and prudent, and by no means inconsistent with genuine, 
and certainly more favourable to efficient, charity, to have 
left them, for the present, in the hands in which the General 
Convention has placed them — the Domestic and Foreign 
Missionary Society. < 

But to this missionary scheme, as well as to that of a Theo- 
logical Seminary, is applicable the grand objection of SEEK- 
ING FOREIGN AID. 

Why should this be done ? Are the United States incom- 
petent to support their own institutions ? Europe is con- 
stantly hearing of our unrivalled prosperity. It ie the theme 
of our orators, poets, historians, and biographers. It is 
blazoned in every species of periodical work from the news- 
paper to the ablest magazine. It is matter of solemn and 



49 

constant record in official communications Co our legislative 
bodies from the chief officers of the respective States, and of 
the Union — And let us be duly thankful, that through the 
merciful Providence of God, there is cause for all this. — 
How inconsistent with this, and how humiliatingly so to the 
honest and virtuous pride of an American citizen, that a reli- 
gious community, comprising so large and respectahle a por- 
tion of our inhabitants, cannot educate or support a proper 
number of Clergy, without going abroad for resources !— Is 
the conclusion hence justly drawn respecting that commu- 
nity a right one ? Is it too poor to maintain itself, or un- 
willing to extend its means to sections which may be so ?-— 
The former imputation is obviously false. A very sufficient 
portion of the wealth of the country, for all the purposes of 
the Episcopal Church, is in the hands, and at the disposal, of 
its members. And as to the latter, your Diocese, Gentlemen 
s— as far as it is implicated in the act of its Bishop, approved 
by the Clergy, and stoutly defended by the Wardens and Ves- 
try of Christ Church, Cincinnati— »y our Diocese, I say, and 
its colleague in this unprecedented work of soliciting for our 
Church foreign aid — -the Trustees of Washington College, 
Connecticut— have yet to learn, that an ungenerous repulse 
at home would have imposed upon you the necessity of look- 
ing for better manners, and greater liberality, abroad. 

These applications then, are discreditable to our country, 
and cast unmerited disgrace upon our Church. When re- 
flecting on them, the most prominent emotion in my mind 

! has been that of gratitude to God, that, in the wise and good 
dispensations of his Providence, he has so ordered it as that 

! so well qualified a friend of our Church as Bishop Hobart, 

I should now be in England, to save us from the imputations 
thus unjustly cast upon us ; and make such explanations as 

; will show these strange proceedings to be wholly of a sec- 
tional character, disapproved by the Church at large. There 

| is, however, a still much stronger objection to them. In 
perfect accordance with the characteristic wisdom, pru- 
dence, and foresight, of the great and good men under whose 
auspices our Church was organized, was the impression 
which, Bishop White informs us, was, in the very infancy of 
that Church, strongly and generally cherished, that after se- 
curing from the proper quarter the Episcopal succession, no 
foreign favour should ever again be asked. We are indebted 
to the course of procedure arising out of that impression, for 
the gradual declining of the inveterate prejudice against our 
Church, on account of its supposed connexion with, or de- 

1 



so 



pendence upon, the Church, and, therefore, the State, of Eng- 
land. Notwithstanding, however, the operation of this cause, 
the prejudice is, even now, by no means thoroughly eradi- 
cated. In many parts of the country it is still a formidable 
weapon wielded against her. For what, then, will they have 
to be responsible, who have now arrested the gradual declen- 
sion of this evil, and sounded again, in different and distant 
quarters of our Church, the alarm which is to reanimate sus- 
picion against her, and to rouse the dormant spirit of politi- 
cal hostility ! — The responsibility, to be sure, rests on those 
sections of the Church themselves. But the evil must be 
felt by us all. Your Bishop, indeed, is satisfied with im- 
plicating, in his share of this procedure, but a part of the f 
Church in the United States — although it is the Church in | 
the largest portion of those States. But his distant coadju- 
tors hesitate not to implicate, in their scheme, the whole — 
« THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED 
« STATES!"* 

Thus, then, whether it will or not, and without being once j ff ] 
asked whether it would, our whole Church is made a party 
to the first infringement of the salutary principle above men- 
tioned, which it was hoped by those to whom we owe so 
much, would be preserved inviolate ; and the preservation 
of which has ever been an object of deep concern to the best jg 
friends of the Church. 

Now let us think, for a moment, of the situation of our 
Church, should these applications* to England be successful, 
in the event, much to be deprecated, of another rupture be- 
tween this country and Great- Britain, or of any minor source , 
of misunderstanding and hostile feeling. Our former con- 
nexion with the Church of England produced prejudices 
against us still subsisting, which place us, in this particular, | 
on a different footing from every other institution, civil or re- 
ligious, in the country. Our enemies will be enabled to point 
to important and respectable Dioceses, sending forth a succes- 
sion of Clergymen, educated, or supported, or both, by soli- 
cited British bounty. They will be enabled to show that in one f 
case, at least, the solicitation of this bounty was in the name 
of our whole Church, and backed by the clear and conspicu- 
ous avowal, that by the extending of it, " the best friends I 
" which Great- Britain has in America" will be nurtured. t 

* See " Address and Statement in behalf of the Episcopal College in 
" Connecticnt," which, with other documents, will be printed in a post- 
script. 

f See the same Address and Statement. 



51 

Gentlemen, let me not be misunderstood. No man has a 
higher veneration for the Church of England than myself. I 
believe that Christianity owes more, under God, to that 
Church than to any other. 1 know and feel that our Church 
owes her a large share of gratitude, and should ever cherish 
for her the highest respect and the warmest affection. And 
were this a proper occasion, I could satisfy you that the feel- 
ings excited by the considerations just advanced, are very far 
from being dictated by any political hostility to the English 
nation or government. But I think and feel on this subject as 
in American citizen, and an American Churchman. And may 
[ not appeal to you, Gentlemen, as sharing with me the honour 
of these characters, to say if in your hearts you do not believe 
'that this measure of soliciting foreign aid, will impose upon 
our Church the appearance of a dependence which will do 
jber the most serious injury t May I not hope to escape the 
'charge of presumption, if, as your Convention is yet to act 
upon this momentous subject, I entreat you, and all others 
Who may have a voice in the concerns of that Convention, to 
lay this matter deeply to heart, and think and act, not only as 
members of your particular Church, but also of our Church 
jut large, and as citizens of our common Republic* 

Our Church is declared to the world to be a suppliant for 
British bounty ; and is, therefore, exposed to all the evils of 
suspicion of that character. Ought it not, then, to take mea- 
sures to wipe off the stain, and, as far as possible, avert 
:hose evils ? Here, indeed, is a just cause for a most solemn 
P* Declaration and Protest." Let them, then, be heard 
from every quarter. Let them be impressed on the pages 
|)f every publication in the country, devoted to the interests 
(of our Church. Let our Right Reverend Fathers, if, in 
jlheir wisdom, they shall think it proper, make solemn record 
of them in their communications to their respective Conven- 
tions. Let them be entered on the Journals of those Con- 
tentions. Let them be carried up to the highest council of our 
'Church, and be recorded with its proceedings. Then, if the 
evil day should come, which God, in his mercy, avert, when 
our country is again placed in hostility against Great-Britain, 
and the keen eye of suspicion, guided by jealousy and animo- 
sity, looks around for objects on which to fix the charge 
of disaffection, and sees that from this quarter, and from 
that, emanate public teachers who owe to Britain their office 
and their influence, in a debt incurred on the very avowal of 
the principle that her " best friends" are thus to be formed ; 
we may point to these varied evidences that our Church is 
not responsible, and therefore not to be blamed, for this : and 



52 

that, consequently, if blame must fall, and fall, it is to be 
feared, it will most heavily, it must rest where only it is 
due, but THE CHURCH BE SPARED. 
I am, Gentlemen, 

Very respectfully your's, 
A PRESBYTER 

Of the Diocese of New-York* 
New=York % March 9, 1824. 






IV9 

No. I. 

From the Christian Journal for January, 1824. 
DOCUMENTS RESPECTING THE CHURCH, 

£ We deem the annexed documents, which have been transmitted to us, 
of sufficient importance to communicate to our readers : and we under- 
stand the following are the reasons which rendered the communications 
on the part of Bishop Hobart necessary and proper. 

To prevent erroneous impressions being" made of the sentiments of tlte 
Bishops, and of the Clergy and Laity of the Church, on the subject of 
these applications, and particularly in relation to Bishop Chase's pro- 
ject of a theological school for the State of Ohio. 

To exhibit the paramount claims of the General Theological Seminary to 
patronage, agreeably to what he conceived was the general sentiment of 
the Church, and in particular compliance with a resolution of the Stand- 
ing Committee of the Trustees of this institution. 

To counteract the erroneous representations which were made of his own 
views and conduct in this business : Bishop Chase was engaged in circu- 
lating the pamphlet which he had published " on the subject of his 
" going to England," in which, professing to give a candid statement, 
he had withheld two communications to him from Bishop White, and 
another from Bishop Brownell, deprecating the plan of a Theologi- 
cal Seminary in the State of Ohio, and endeavoured to present Bishop 
Hobart in an unfavourable point of view. Bishop Chase also circulated 
a pastoral letter of Bishop Hobart, in 1820, in which he advocated a Dio- 
cesan Seminary in New- York, without stating the circumstances which 
afterwards induced him, in the spirit of conciliation and compromise, to 
promote the union of this and the General Seminary, under its present 
constitution. 

A communication from him was thus rendered further necessary, in order 
to satisfy the inquiries which were made, and the still greater number 
which he foresaw would be made, relative to the business generally, and 
to his own particular conduct and views in regard to it. This necessity 
had been foreseen by his venerable father in the episcopacy, (Bishop 
White,) who had intimated to him, before his departure, that "he might 
" be under the necessity of stating the circumstances which should 
*' have prevented his" (Bishop Chase's) " voyage, in consequence of the 
" inquiries which would be made." 

The evil of bringing these matters before the Church of England was done 
by others. Bishop Hobart thus found himself placed in a situation, in 
which it became his duty, however painful, to seek to correct and pre- 
vent erroneous impressions ; and this he endeavoured to do with as 
much delicacy and prudence as was possible.^ 

Address and Statement in behalf of the Efiiacofial College in 

Connecticut — 

To the Bishofis, Clergy, and Laity of the Church of England, 
Brethren, 
An occasion has arrived, when the Episcopal Church in the 
United Stales once more looks, with filial solicitude, to her parent 



54 

Church in Great-Britain. Planted in the midst of Dissenters from 
her ministry and worship, and opposed by many prejudices, numer- 
ous difficulties have heretofore retarded her progress : yet, fos- 
tered originally by the venerable Society for the Propagation of 
the Gos/iel in Foreign Parts, and prospered by the divine blessing, 
she has now attained a respectable rank among the other Reformed 
Churches in our country. Still, she experiences a formidable ob- 
stacle to her advancement, in the necessity of educating her youth 
in seminaries under the influence and direction of other denomina- 
tions of Christians. 

Within the present year, however, an Episcopal College has 
received a charter from the legislature of the state of Connecticut, 
to be called by the name of Washington College ;* and it is in be- 
half of this institution that its Trustees now beg leave to address 
you. 

Active and successful exertions, in behalf of this institution, are 
now in operation, among the friends of the Church in this country, 
for its respectable endowment ; but after our best efforts, we shall 
still need the assistance of her friends in Great-Britain ; and it is 
to them especially that we must look, for the supply of books to 
furnish a library, and for the necessary philosophical apparatus. 

We earnestly hope, that your aid will enable us to place this 
Episcopal College upon an equal footing with the other literary 
institutions amongst us. You will readily conceive, that no mea- 
sures could be better calculated to promote the prosperity of the 
Church in this country, and to oppose an effectual barrier to those 
spreading errors, which are dividing and destroying the other reli- 
gious communions. 

Between nations, as among individuals, a common religion is a 
strong bond of union. We beg leave to add, that the best friends 
which Great-Britain has in America, will be found among the mem- 
bers of the Efiiscofial Church ; and to express our conviction, that 
every thing which conduces to the extension of this Church, will 
be found to strengthen the bands of relationship and amity which 
connect the two countries. 

Under the influence of these considerations, we have deputed 
the Rev. Nathaniel S\ Wheaton, A. M. Rector of Christ Church, 
Hartford, to proceed to England, to solicit your friendly assist- 
ance ; and we beg leave to commend him to your hospitable re- 
ception, as a man of piety and worth, and every way worthy of con- 
fidence and esteem. 

By the Trustees of Washington College, 

THOMAS C. BROWNELL, President, 
and Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut 
Harry Croswell, Secretary. 

New-Haven, Connecticut, August 30, 1823. 

* It was necessary that some name should be given it \n the charter. 
Should some munificent benefactor to the institution be found, it is in- 
tended to honour it with his name. 






The following statement relative to the origin and present cir- 
cumstances of the American Church is submitted, in the hope that 
they may increase the interest already felt in this country in the 
prosperity of that distant part of Christ's vineyard: — 

Before the event which severed the United States from the mo- 
ther country, a number of churches had been planted thereby the 
missionaries of the Society in England for the Propagation of the 
Gospel in Foreign Parts. These were of course withdrawn, when 
the dependence of the States on the parent country ceased, and 
the Church in America was reduced to a languishing and precari- 
ous state of existence. 

The attachment of its members was, however, too deeply rooted, 
to suffer them to witness its decay without an effort to arrest it, 
and their first care was directed to the provision of a valid minis- 
try. In the year 1784, the Rev. Samuel Seabury was appointed, 
by the Episcopalians in Connecticut, to proceed to England, to 
solicit consecration at the hands of the English Bishops ; but as no 
civil provision had then been made for the consecration of Bishops 
out of his Majesty's dominions, and as the necessities of the Ame- 
rican Church were pressing, he was induced to apply to the Bi- 
shops of the Scottish Church, where, it was understood, no ob- 
structions of a civil nature existed ; and was set apart to the Epis- 
copal office by Bishop Kilgour, of Aberdeen, assisted by Bishops 
Petrie and Skinner. 

Three years later, when the obstructions in England had been 
removed by an Act of Parliament, the Rev. Dr. White, of Penn- 
sylvania, and the Rev. Samuel Provoost, of New-York, both of 
whom had been ordained in England, were consecrated at Lam- 
beth, by the Archbishop of Canterbury; and in 1790, the Rev. 
Dr. Madison, of Virginia, was also consecrated, by the same 
authority. Bishop White is now the only survivor of those who 
received their consecration in England, and the remaining nine 
American Bishops have all been consecrated by him. 

These circumstances are related, that it may be seen how di- 
rectly the American Church is descended from that in England. 
The former claims to be considered as a genuine branch of " the 
• Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church ;" and it gratefully ascribes 
its existence, under God, to the unwearied efforts and maternal 
care of the Established Church in England. Its formulary of 
public worship is almost identically the same : it believes in the 
same Articles of the Christian faith ; and acknowledges the same 
Book of Homilies to contain sound expositions of Christian faith 
and practice. 

Such is the civil constitution of the United States, that neither 
Bishops nor Clergy derive the least assistance from the Govern- 
ment: they are in every case supported by the voluntary contri- 
butions of the people over whom they preside. The largest sala- 
ries of the Clergy do not exceed 700/. sterling ; while the average 
of their incomes may be estimated at 120/. or 130/. — The Bishops 
are also Rectors of churches, and generally derive their support 
from that source. 



66 

The number of organized Episcopal congregations in the States 
falls but little short of six hundred ; while the Clergymen engaged 
in actual parochial duty, do not exceed half that number. It is 
pleasing to record the gradual extinction of those inveterate pre- 
judices against Episcopacy, which distinguished the first settlers 
of the country, especially in those parts where the Church has 
been advantageously made known by her more intelligent minis- 
ters. The candid and moderate belonging to the various sects, 
appalled at the enormous strides of heresy, are visibly becoming 
more reconciled to a Church, whose temperate doctrines, con- 
sistent government, and edifying mode of worship, present a com- 
mon ground of union, not to be found within the pale of any of the 
classes of Dissenters. Nothing indeed seems to be wanting to a 
general extension of the Episcopal Church, but a corps of zealous, 
well-educated Clergy ', far more numerous than, with her present 
advantages, it is possible for her to possess. 

In the range of States to the westward of the Alleghany moun- 
tains, whose population is already computed by millions, a large 
portion of whom are attached from principle to the forms of this 
Church, it is a melancholy fact, that but fourteen Episcopal Cler- 
gymen are employed ! Nor is there the least prospect of their 
receiving a supply for years to come, unless a more adequate pro- 
vision is made for the education of ministers. The churches in 
the States bordering on the Atlantic, where all the literary institu- 
tions of note are found, are only supplied in part : and while they 
labour under their present privations, all missionary efforts for the 
benefit of their western brethren must be suspended. 

This lamentable deficiency in the numbers of the Episcopal 
Clergy is to be ascribed principally to the fact, that there does 
not exist in the United States a College generally accessible to 
students, where they may receive a classical education, without 
danger to the religious predilections in which they have been: 
brought up. It ought, however, to be mentioned, that Columbia 
College, in the city of New -York, is conducted principally by 
members of the Episcopal Church ; but such is the expense at- 
tending a four years' residence in a large city, that the benefits of 
the institution are in a great measure confined to the city itself. 
The theological institution lately established in the same place, is 
devoted to the object of preparing young men for the ministry, 
who have received a classical education elsewhere. 

Unhappily for the cause of religious truth, the best endowed 
literary institution in the country — the Harvard University, near 
Boston — is wholly Unitarian. Few young men of talents leave 
that institution without having imbibed more or less of the spirit 
of bold religious speculation, which has already spread to a most 
alarming extent among the opulent and intellectual, particularly 
in the eastern part of the Union. Yet it is highly gratifying to re- 
flect, that in no instance has an Episcopal Clergyman been known 
to abandon the faith of his fathers, and lead his people over to the 
ranks of Unitarian heresy and dissent. The Liturgy has hitherto 
proved, under God, an effectual bulwark of " the faith once deli- 



m 

vered to the saints ; M and hence it has been lately made the objefct 
of repeated and severe attacks from Unitarian pens. The Harvard 
University is in possession of funds to the amount of more than 
half a million of dollars ; principally the accumulated donations of 
individuals $ and enjoys moreover a large annual stipend from the 
State treasury : it has a library of 30,000 volumes ; and the vari- 
ous branches of science, and classical literature, are taught by 
twenty Professors, aided by a number of tutors. With means so 
extensive* it must operate a material change on the religious views 
of the community ; and particularly so, as its Professors occupy 
the first rank among the learned in America. The North- Ame- 
rican Review may be adduced as a specimen of their literary 
ability. 

The other important classical institutions are, without exception, 
controlled by denominations not Episcopal ; and in all of them, 
the peculiar principles of their respective sects are more or less 
inculcated. The consequences to the Church may easily be ima- 
gined. Many young men of fair promise have been annually lost 
to the Church, who might have been dedicated to the service of 
her altars, had they not been compelled to seek a classical educa- 
tion in institutions unfriendly to her government and mode of wor- 
ship. 

The second place among American colleges is occupied by 
Yale College, which is exclusively directed by Congregationalists. 
It is worthy of remark, that its library is not a little indebted to the 
munificence of members of the Established Church in England, 
Soon after its foundation, many authors then living, enriched it 
with donations of 1 their works; and Mr. Dummer, the agent for 
the colony, presented it with 800 choice volumes. But it found 
its most munificent patron in Dr. Berkley, Bishop of Cloyne, who 
added near 1000 volumes — 260 of which were folio editions of the 
best authors. The College is also indebted to him for a valuable 
tract of land in the State of Rhode-Island, the annual rent of which 
is appropriated to the encouragement of classical learning. A 
Baptist College, lately organized in the District of Columbia, has 
also derived essential aid from England, in donations of money, 
and books for its library. 

Thus has it happened* that, while the literary institutions of 
other denominations in America have been essentially aided by the 
liberality of English Episcopalians, the Episcopal Vhureh in that 
country remains destitute. Its members in the State of Connec- 
ticut have been endeavouring, for the last twelve or fifteen years, 
to obtain from the Legislature a Charter for an Episcopal College; 
but so powerful has been the operation of popular prejudice, that 
their efforts have been without success till the present year. This 
difficulty being at length overcome, they have now to contend 
with the evils of poverty ; while their scattered situation renders 
even the support of their Clergy burdensome. 

It is the intention of the Trustees to render the College, as far 
as possible, a place of resort for the sorts of all the Episcopalian* 
throughout the Union, and a nursery of ministers for the infant 

8 



58 

Church The patronage of all the friends of the cause will accord- 
ingly be solicited ; and agents for collecting funds are now actively 
engaged, with very encouraging prospects of success. But it can- 
not be concealed, that without some aid beyond what lies in their 
own resources, particularly in the provision of a library, and appa- 
ratus for experiments in natural philosophy, many years must 
elapse, before the Church will experience any material benefit 
from the institution. 

Under these embarrassments, . the Trustees are induced to turn 
to that enlightened body in England, from which it is the boast of 
the American Church that she derives her origin. They rely on 
a simple exposure of their circumstances — their wants and their 
prospects — >to procure them a favourable hearing. They do not 
wish to appear in the character of suppliants for charity— they 
only desire to be put in possession of the means of emulating, 
though with humbler efforts, the career of their brethren in Eng- 
land, in extending and building up the cause they love. 

Subscriptions, donations in books, and philosophical instruments, 
will be thankfully received by C. and J. Rivington, St. Paul's 
Church Yard, and Waterloo Place, Pall Mall ; and by Rivingtons 
and Cochran, 148, Strand. The Rev. Dr. Gaskin, Prebendary of 
Ely, and Rector of Stoke Newington, will also receive donations 
m aid of the same object, at his residence in Stoke Newington. 

London, November 1823. 



NOTE relative to the Agency of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in the United States of America, in certain Applies 
iions in Behalf of local Institutions of that Church, to , the 
Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Church of England. 

The undersigned deems it due to the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in the United States of America, to make known, that 
this Church has not, by any act of the General Convention of her 
Bishops and the Representatives of her Clergy and Laity, the 
only organ through which that authority can be conveyed, au- 
thorized an appeal in her behalf to the parent Church. in Great- 
Britain, for whom she cherishes the most profound veneration, 
and to whom she gratefully acknowledges that she is " indebted, 
" under God, for her first foundation, and for a long continuance 
" of nursing care and protection,'* and from whom she has not de- 
parted " in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship, 
" or further than local circumstances require."* He is especially 
persuaded that the great body of her Bishops, her Clergy, and 
Laity, would not sanction such an appeal from a particular Dio- 
cese or district in favour of any local institution, for whatever pur- 
pose established. It is within his knowledge, that this sanction has 
in some recent cases been solicited and refused. 

* Preface to the American Liturgy.. 



a 



59 

While many Episcopalians in the United States are opposed? 
for weighty considerations, to an application to any foreign source 
for aid to their Church, others, not few in number, doubt, to say 
the least, the propriety and expediency of such a measure. But 
the undersigned is fully satisfied, that if a fiublic appeal of this de- 
scription were deemed proper and expedient, ail would unite in 
the opinion, that it should be made in favour of the General Theo- 
logical Seminary which has been established by the authority of 
the Church, for the purpose of educating^ pious, learned, and 
orthodox ministry. As evidence of the correctness of this senti- 
ment, he states the fact, that the General Convention of the Epis- 
copal Church, consisting of its House of Bishops, and of its House 
of Clerical and Lay Deputies, who are chosen by the Diocesan 
Conventions, passed a Resolution at their Session in May last, en- 
forcing the claims of that institution, and earnestly inviting the 
members and friends of the Church, to contributions and exertions 
in its behalf. The following is also a copy of an official instrument, 
which was furnished to the undersigned before he left America : 

a Extract from the Minutes of the Standing Committee of the 
Trustees of the General Theological Seminary of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
" held in the Vestry-room of Trinity Churchy in the City of 
f New-York, on Thursday, September 18th, 1823. 

u Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that the General 

tf Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 

M the United States of America, from its character as established 

w by the authority of the Church, and under the control of the 

a same ; from the importance of its design, which is to provide 

" for the whole Church a pious, learned, and orthodox ministry ; 

" and from t.he state of its funds, which are inadequate to even its 

*-' present limited exigencies, is peculiarly entitled to the patronage 

" of all those benevolent individuals who take an interest in the 

a prosperity of the American Church : — -and that the Secretary be 

" directed to furnish official copies of this Resolution, under the 

*' seal of the Seminary, to the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, to be 

u used by him as he may judge expedient. 

" I certify the above to be a true extract from the Minutes of 

" the Standing Committee Of the Trustees of the General 

" Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church 

" in the United States, 

" Henry U. Onderdonk, Sec'ry." 

The General Theological Seminary is now established on prin- 
ciples which are calculated to secure a correct and able admini 
stration of its concerns ; and it has thus inspired general confi- 
dence, and called forth the most solicitous wishes and exertions in 
its behalf. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of 
the Bishops of the Church, and of Clergymen and Laymen chosen 
byJthe General Convention. The constitution of the seminary 



60 

makes provision for the establishment, in due time, of braech 
schools under its superintending control, in those parts of the 
Union where the exigencies of the Church may demand this ar» 
rangement ; and thus obviously renders unnecessary and inexpe* 
dient, the organization of independent diocesan institutions. The 
power to establish these branch schools is vested not in any indivi- 
dual Bishop or Diocesan Convention, but more properly in the 
General Convention of the Church, and in the Board of Trustees 
of the seminary ; and an attempt to depart from this wise arrange- 
ment, on the part of any particular Bishop or Diocese, would tend 
to subvert the order and the unity of the Church, and ought obvi- 
ously to be discountenanced by ajl its friends. 

The instruction of the General Theological Seminary is con- 
ducted, and its discipline immediately administered, by six Profes- 
sors in the distinct departments of Hebrew and Greek literature, 
biblical criticism, systematic divinity, the evidences of Christianity, 
ecclesiastical history, with the ministry, polity, and ritual of the 
Church, and pulpit eloquence and pastoral theology. The stu- 
dents daily attend the Professors; and the above course of instruc- 
tion comprises a period of three years. It is designed, as soon as 
funds are furnished for the purpose, to establish scholarships, on 
which pious young men designed for holy orders, who are desti- 
tute of pecuniary means, will be placed, in order to receive the 
benefit of the institution, It must be obvious that immense ad- 
vantages would result to the American Church, if the funds of this 
seminary were adequate to the accomplishment of its pious and 
beneficent designs, 

Under these circumstances, it was a subject of deep and gene- 
ral regret to learn, by an unexpected communication to the Bi- 
shops, that a determination was formed to establish a theological 
school in the Diocese of Ohio, and that a voyage was contem- 
plated -to England, with a view to apply to the Church in that 
country for contributions to effect this object, and for missionary 
purposes in that Diocese. It does not appear, that this measure of 
a diocesan theological school in Ohio, has been acted on by the 
Convention of the Church in that State, that they have adopted 
any plan for its organization, or that there is any incorporated 
body to hold or to manage its funds. 

The letter communicating the contemplated measure to the 
Bishops, requested their aid in promoting it. In reply to this 
communication, Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, the venerable 
presiding Bishop of the American Church, one of the three Bi- 
shops originally consecrated by the Bishops of the Church of Eng- 
land, and who has for many years held the most prominent station 
in the councils of that Church, wrote as follows; — 

" As the contemplated measure seems to me to embrace con- 
'* siderations interesting to our Church at large, I find it incum- 
« bent on me to decline compliance with your wishes, not without 
• l great pain, on account of the necessity which I conceive to be 
" imposed on me by official consistency. 

*' At the time of organizing our Church, there was no senti- 



61 

u mcnt more current with those concerned in the business, than 
w the expediency of avoiding all application to a foreign source, 
u except in the single act of obtaining the episcopal succession j 
" a line of conduct towards our mother Church, not dictated by 
" the want of affection or of respect, which we hoped to be che- 
" rished for her to the end of time ; but because of the effect 
" which might be produced on our civil interests in the United 
{i States. 

" Your case is not the first which has brought the subject into 
" view. Whether a lapse of nearly forty years have caused a 
** change, of opinion, is more than I have materials to judge of; 
" but I trust for myself, that after having acted on the principle 
*' through so long a tract of time, my continuance will not be im- 

" puted either to want of affection for* , or of zeal for the 

4t prosperity of the Church." 

It would be as far as possible from the intention of the venerable 
writer of the above, (for none holds the Church of England in 
greater veneration, or has been uniformly more studious to avoid 
all departure from her in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, 
or worship, or further than local circumstances require,) to dis- 
countenance those friendly communications which have already 
taken place between the individual clergy and members, and the 
societies and functionaries of the two Churches; or to discourage 
any unsolicited expression of benevolent consideration on the part 
of the members of the Church of England to the Church in Ame- 
rica. The principle stated by him, it is conceived, applies only to 
those public and authorized solicitations on the part of the Church 
in America, which would be peculiarly liable in various respects 
to misconstruction. 

After the preceding communication was made by Bishop 
White, an interchange of opinion took place between several of the 
Bishops ; in consequence of which another letter was addressed by 
Bishop White to the person who originated the objectionable mea- 
sure, with a view to dissuade him from attempting to carry it into 
effect. From this communication the following is an extract. 
After stating that he was requested to write by several of his bre« 
thren, Bishop White observes — 

" One of the objections, is the interference with an object so 
*' much approved of by our communion throughout the United 
" States, as that of founding a General Theological School. There 
" is the less reason for the setting up of a Diocesan Seminary, be- 
" cause of that part of our general plan, which leaves an opening 
" for the institution of branches. Under this head, I add for your 
" information, that there has been a reduction of board to two dol- 
" lars and fifty cents per week ; and although this may be too 
"much for young men from Ohio, it is equally so for others from 
" different parts of the Union ; who, on that account, are obliged 
" to study under the directions of such private clergymen as can 
" bestow their services to the effect. If candidates from the said 
." states should be reduced to this necessity for a time, it is no more 



62 • 

^ than what has hapjpned to all of our students until lately, and is 
" the case to this hour with the greater number of them. 

" Next, in regard to the employment of missionaries, we are of 

tl opinion that when we have recently constituted a society for that 

f object, the collections for it will be damped by the knowledge of 

" collections making in England from any state ; and much more 

" if applications should be made from various quarters of the 

<k United States ; for, that the example in one instance should have 

"many followers, we are persuaded; unless it should be under- 

" stood to be disapproved of generally by our communion. This 

" brings us to a very serious objection. It is, that in the event of 

*' a multiplying of missions to England, there will be brought 

" great disgrace on our Church. Perhaps you entertain the idea 

a that there is no probability of this evil ; but look at the large 

<c states westward and southward, which are now even more desti- 

P tute than that of Ohio. Then look at the immense districts of 

" the Atlantic states, which have no more than they of the admi- 

a nistration of the ordinances : for instance, at least the half of 

" Pennsylvania, and the same may be said of others. So near to 

f { me as in the state of Delaware, there is an entire prostration of 

?* the Church, except lately in the single county of Newcastle. 

" Why not send a mission to England from any or from all of these 

tc quarters ? Here, I will say something grounded on my own ob- 

(t servadon, and for which I only am responsible. I conceive that 

£ one of the greatest nuisances among us, is that of a considerable 

5< proportion of the demands made on our large cities for pecu= 

a niary contributions. Of some I know, and have good grounds 

s< to suspect of many, that the applicants carried back little more 

" than paid their expenses. .Nevertheless, it is an inducement in 

<c different neighbourhoods to propose journeys — perhaps for bene- 

" ficent objects, which are benefited in a degree, making a small 

w compensation for the great waste of supplies which would be bet- 

" ter applied to valuable establishments at home. This is men- 

ci tioned as an aggravation of the. evil, should it occur, of numerous 

" envoys for charity from this country to England, to the great dis- 

W credit of our Church, where we ought to be held in respect, as 

u we trust we now are. Once more, Sir, I request to be undec- 

a stood, as expressing sentiments which would not be hazarded on 

" the ground of a supposed possession of a sufficient weight of 

il character as an individual ; but hope that I am not presumptu- 

P ous, when called to it by three of our brethren ;* especially as I 

" think it probable that they will be sustained in it by the clergy 

" generally. This I am led to suppose from the sentiments which 

" I have heard expressed by all of them, who have spoken to me 

" on the subject." 

There is reason to fear,, that notwithstanding all the remon- 
strances which have been urged in opposition to it, exertions will 
he made by the person who originated it, and who has arrived ir 

* The concurrence of other Bishops was subsequently expressed. 



England, to carry into effect the measure above stated ; and this 
representation, with respect to it, is thus rendered necessary. 

It is proper to observe, that the Diocese of Ohio has not been, 
and will not be, neglected by the American Church. Within these 
few years past, a contribution of several thousand dollars, a large 
part of which was raised in the Diocese of New-York, was col- 
lected for the Church in that state ; and a recent appropriation has 
been made for her benefit, from the funds of the Protestant Epis- 
copal Missionary Society in the United States, which is constituted 
by th« General Convention for the general missionary purposes of 
that Church. 

Exertions are making in the Diocese Of Connecticut for the es- 
tablishment of an Episcopal College in that state. Similar efforts 
are in successful operation for the organization of an Episcopal 
College in the western district of the state of New -York, which 
may be considered as one of the finest portions of the American 
continent) and which is nearly the centre of the eastern and west- 
ern population of the United States. The site of the College is 
contiguous to the Canal which connects the Atlantic Ocean with 
the western lakes. But whatever interest may be excited in fa- 
vour of these or any other local institutions, no application in their 
favour has been sanctioned by the American Church. On the 
contrary, the undersigned expresses the strong persuasion that the 
Protestant Episcopalians in the United States of America regard 
the General Theological Seminary as the great national institu- 
tion of their Church, which, under existing circumstances, is pre- 
eminently entitled to whatever unsolicited patronage the friends of 
that Church maybe disposed to bestow. 

The undersigned indulges the hope, that the necessity which, 
from particular circumstances, seems to exist, of preventing er- 
roneous impressions relative to the agency of the American Epis- 
copal Church, in applications in behalf of local institutions, will be 
admitted as his apology for this communication. 

JOHN HENRY HOBART, 
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
in the State of New- York 

London, Nov. 13, 1823. 



The undersigned, with a view to more full information on the 
subject of his note, dated the 13th instant, relative to certain appli- 
cations in behalf of local institutions of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in the United States of America, to the Bishops, Clergy, 
and Laity of the Church of England, finds it necessary to state the 
following additional particulars : — The Bishops of the American 
Episcopal Church are ten in number : there are documents in the 
possession of the undersigned, which prove that three of these, 
besides the presiding Bishop, whose letter is contained in the for- 
mer note, disapproved of the plan to which it refers : that one, 
who, before he had become acquainted with the objects of the con- 
templated voyage to England, wrote a letter in approbation of it, af- 



G4 

terwards recalled that approbation, and particularly deprecated the 
establishment of a local seminary in the state of Ohio : that an- 
other, though concurring in some of the views of the plan* evi- 
dently doubted the expediency of visiting England in prosecution 
of it : that, from another, no expression of opinion took place) 
and that one Bishop alone of the ten, without reference to the Dio= 
cese of Ohio, expressed his approbation of it. tie is persuaded, 
that the great body of the Clergy and Laity would sustain the Bi- 
shops in these sentiments, which certainly must be founded on an 
intimate knowledge and consideration of the true interests of their 
Church, and of the best plan of extending and perpetuating the 
truths of salvation which it proclaims, and cannot be attributed to 
any indifference to the situation of the Episcopalians in the state 
of Ohio.* Any flic ture which may be drawn of the e/iiscofial or 
clerical labours, or of the spiritual wants, of that Diocese, may be 
applied, in its highest colouring, to those of many others in the 
United States, and it mhy be added, of large districts in the British 
provinces of Ufifier and Lower Canada* The General Theolo- 
gical School and the General Missionary Society are established 
for the relief of these wants, as it respects the United States, by 
rearing clergymen, and sending missionaries, where diocesan mis- 
sionary societies do not make adequate provision ; and contribu- 
tions from abroad, in favour of local institutions for the same pur- 
poses, would tend to damp the zeal and exertions, which, under 
existing circumstances, ought to be bestowed on the great na- 
tional institutions of the Church, which are yet in their infancy—- 
and would in many other respects have an injurious operation on 
her interests* 

It is proper also to observe more distinctly than is done in the 
former note, that at one period a Diocesan Theological Seminary 
existed in the state of New-York, and a General Theological Se- 
minary at New-Haven; that under a change of circumstances, 
and with a view to unity of operations, a proposition for uniting the 
two seminaries under a proper organization was submitted in Oc- 
tober, 1821, by the undersigned, to the Convention of the Clergy 
and Laity in his Diocese — that in the following month of Novem- 
ber, at a General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of 
the whole Church, specially convened for the purpose, this union, 
in the spirit of compromise and conciliation, and with the cordial 
co-operation of the undersigned, was effected, and a constitution for 
the government of the seminary adopted, which removed many 
objections to the organization of the former seminary, and which 
was generally acceptable— that this event was hailed by all the 
friends of the Church as constituting an happy era in its history — 

* Objections are made to the inconvenience of the distance of the state 
of Ohio from New-York, the seat of the General Theological Seminary. 
But other states are equally remote, particularly South-Carolina ; all the 
candidates for orders in which, excepting 1 one, are now students at the Ge- 
neral Seminary. It is not known that in Ohio there are more than two or 
three candidates for orders ; nor is it believed the number will ever be 
more considerable than to constitute a very small class. 



65 

and that since that period, the undersigned, as was his duty, iii 
common with the great body of his brethren, and of the Clergy 
and Laity, has been the Consistent advocate of an institution, whichj 
if properly supported, will be adequate to providing a Clergy for 
every fiart of the Church, and which renders unnecessary and in- 
expedient diocesan establishments. 

The following is the resolution of the House of Bishops, passed 
in May last, referred to in the former note. 

" Resolved^ that this House entertain a gratifying sense of the 
* ( fidelity with which the Trustees and the Faculty of the General 
" Theological Seminary have executed the trust committed to 
" them, and respectively fulfilled the duties of their appointment ; 
" and while they deeply regret that no other provision than such 
** as is yet inadequate to the permanent success of the design, has 
" hitherto been obtained for it, of the members of our Church, 
" they still contemplate it with hope, and affectionately commend 
" it to the liberality and patronage of their brethren, both of the 
" Clergy and of the Laity, as a means of increase to the number 
" of well qualified ministers of the Gospel in this Church* 

" Resolved^ further, as the opinion of this House, that the Ge- 
" neral Theological Seminary, having been established by the 
" whoie body of this Church, in General Convention, seems pecu- 
" liarly to demand the concurrent solicitudes and exertions to be 
44 concentered on *7, of all its members ; inasmuch as this institu- 
u tidn, when possessing the combined and efficient support of the 
" whole Church, must be the most effectual means, under Provi- 
" dence, of perpetuating the unity of the Church, in the bond of 
" peace." 

The following are also extracts from a Report of the Commit- 
tee of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the same Con* 
vemion on the Theological Seminary :- — 

" With respect to the mode of education pursued in the semi- 
u nary, your Committee refer the House, with great satisfaction, 
" to the able and luminous Report of the Faculty, embodied in the 
" Report of the Trustees to the Convention. The course pursued 
" is, in the opinion of your Committee, expanded and liberal in 
" its character, well fitted to render the students abie ministers of 
" the New Testament, and to train them up in religious habits, as 
" well as in sound learning. 

44 Your Committee cannot but contemplate with pleasure, the 
" delightful prospect of having a General Semjnary, whither, like 
41 the temple at Jerusalem, the tribes of the Lord will go up to 
" testify unto Israel ; and they anticipate, with full confidence, that 
" happy period, when the north and the south will give up, and 
41 the east and the west will not keep back/* 

The undersigned again begs leave to state, that, in this commu- 
nication, his object has been to discharge an act of duty to the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, by apprizing its 
friends of its views, as far as they have been ascertained, of certain 

9 



66 

applications in Great-Britain in behalf of diocesan institutions, and 
of the sense which it entertains of the paramount claims of its na- 
tional establishments to benevolent consideration. 

JOHN HENRY HOBART. 

London, JVov. 19, 1823. 

Reference is made to C. and J. Rivington, St. Paul's Church 
Yard, and Waterloo Place, and to Rivington and Cochran, 148, 
Strand. 



POSTSCRIPT. 

No. II. 

The following document has just been received from Eng- 
land : — 

Letter to a Friend, on the Application of Bishop Chase, of Ohio, 
in the United States of America, for Aid to a Theological 
School in that Diocese, 

My Dear Sir, 

Solicitous, as I trust we both are most deeply, for the progress 
of the Gospel of salvation, and for the success of the efforts for this 
purpose, which distinguish the present age and our own country, 
our attention was naturally arrested by an appeal published in the 
Christian Guardian, in behalf of a school for educating young men 
for the ministry about to be established in the Diocese of Ohio, 
in the United States of America, by its Bishop, who is now here 
applying for pecuniary aid to effect this object. The representa- 
tions which are made, are certainly calculated to excite the feel- 
ings. But as the acts of Christian benevolence should have the 
sanction of our deliberate judgment and reflection, we concluded 
to examine this matter well before we enlisted in its favour. I 
now communicate to you the result of the examination and inqui- 
ries which I have «iade, having availed myself of numerous docu- 
ments, which, through various channels, have reached this country, 
relative to the Episcopal Church in the United States, and some 
of which I found in the British Critic for November last. My 
attention was directed not to the remarks of the Editor or his 
Correspondent, but to the authentic documents, by which I judge 
for myself. 

It appears that the concerns of this Church are managed by a 
body, which meets statedly every three years, called " The Gene- 
" rat Convention" which consists of all the Bishops, who consti- 



67 

ttite one House, and Clerical and Lay Deputies, who meet in an- 
other, and that the consent of a majority of the Bishops, of a ma- 
jority of the Clerical Deputies, and of a. majority of the Lay De- 
puties, is necessary to every act of this Convention. Its acts thus 
passed are binding, agreeably to the constitution of the Church, on 
all the Bishops, and on all the Clergy and Laity ; as well on those 
Bishops who do not attend, and on those Dioceses whose Deputies 
do not attend, as on those that do. It appears that at a Special 
Meeting of this General Convention, about three years since, the 
General Theological Seminary for the education of young men 
for the ministry, which had been for some time organized, was 
materially altered in its constitution, and according to its present 
plan was established, for aught that appears to the contrary on the 
journals of the Convention, without any opposition. That this 
measure, which united jarring views on this subject, and removed 
various objections which existed to the institution as previously 
constituted, was considered, in reference to the unity of the Church, 
and to the education of a pious and learned ministry, as of the most 
propitious nature, is evident, from a very affecting Address which 
was delivered on that occasion by Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, 
who is one of the Fathers of the American Episcopacy, being one 
of the Bishops originally consecrated by the English Bishops. He 
observed in substance, that the spirit of conciliation which dictated 
this proceeding, and the merging of local views in general policy, 
were, he trusted, an evidence of the fulfilment of the gracious pror 
mise that God would be with his Church always, even to the end 
of the world. By this measure, the Diocesan Seminary which had 
subsisted in New-York was relinquished, and its funds transferred 
to the General Institution ; and the friends of the former became 
the cordial and active advocates and supporters of the latter. The 
constitution of the General Seminary appears indeed exceedingly 
judicious. The Bishops are all Trustees, with a certain number 
of Clerical and Lay Trustees, who are chosen by each Diocese, 
subject to the rejection of the General Convention. And the 
Trustees, when i; is required by any member, vote by orders ; so 
that a majority of the Bishops, and a majority of the Clerical 
Trustees, and a majority of the Lay Trustees, must concur to 
render any act valid. 

But the most remarkable feature of the constitution of the The- 
ological Seminary, as established at the period mentioned, and 
which did not before exist, is that which makes provision for what 
are called Branch Schools. Whenever the General Convention 
r S the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity, and the Trustees of the General 
Theological Seminary, deem the establishment of a Branch Theo- 
logical School, in any Diocese, necessary or proper, they have 
authority to establish one. I confess I am much struck with the 
wisdom of this arrangement. It is calculated to provide for the 
wants of every part of the Church in respect to education for the 
ministry, by that body, who having the guardianship of the whole 
Church, are the best judges when and by what mode the great 
-:biect of theological education in every Diocese is to be promoted. 



68 

It is also calculated, by preserving theological education under the 
supervision of the whole Church, to prevent the prevalence of 
extreme opinions on points of controversy — thus to prevent parties 
or to moderate them ; and to unite all in those great truths in 
which the friends of evangelical religion agree. I am credibly 
informed that this consideration weighed mcst powerfully in favour 
of a General Theological Seminary, and of Branch Schools under 
the control of the whole Church, in opposition to those of parti- 
cular Dioceses. And that it was urged by none more powerfully 
than by the Rev. Dr. M***, of the city of New-York, the Secre- 
tary of the American Bible Society, who, I understand, has been 
uniformly the advocate of the General Theological Institution. I 
perceive, from a document which I looked over, that he is one of 
its Trustees, and actively engaged in its concerns ; and has given 
the most substantial pledge of his support, by a very liberal con- 
tribution to its funds. I consider this circumstance as evidence 
among others, that the General Theological Seminary is not sub- 
servient to the views of a particular party ; since it is supported 
by those who are represented, with what justice I do not pretend 
to say, as entertaining somewhat different views on certain religi- 
ous topics. 

It appears to me then, that if the peculiar wants of any particu- 
lar Diocese, render it necessary and expedient that provision be 
made in it for the education of young men for the ministry, this 
may be obtained from the General Seminary, by means of a Branch 
School* The proviso for schools of this description which now 
exists, was not originally in the constitution of the seminary ; and 
hence, previously to this provision, and to others of a very im- 
portant nature, arguments might be urged in favour of indepen- 
dent diocesan seminaries, which have now no force. But accord- 
ing to the present constitution of the General Theological Semi- 
nary, as solemnly adopted by the General Convention of the Bi- 
shops, the Clergy? and the Laity of the Episcopal Church, the 
course, one would think, which fidelity to his obligations to that 
Church, and to its authority, its dignity, its order, and its peace, 
demands from any Bishop who may want a theological school in 
his own Diocese, is perfectly obvious. Let him apply for this 
purpose to the General Convention, consisting of his brethren the 
Bishops, and the Deputies of the Clergy and the Laity, and to the 
Trustees of the General Seminary, who are vested with authority 
to establish branch schools—And it can hardly be supposed, that 
if the measure be a proper one, they will refuse their sanction. 
To proceed without this sanction, would seem to me not to be 
setting an example calculated to preserve deference to the con- 
stituted authorities of the Church, and to its unity and its order. 

Having ascertained the foregoing facts, I was led very anxiously 
to inquire what course had been pursued by Bishop Chase, of 
Ohio, on the subject of his proposed Theological School. I do 
not find that he has obtained any sanction for it from the General 
Convention of the Church, which met in May last, at Philadel- 
phia, or from the Trustees of the General Seminary, who met in 



New-York in July last On the contrary, both these bodies have 
passed resolutions, pressing the peculiar and paramount claims of 
the General Seminary. It appears that having formed a plan of 
an independent diocesan school, and determined on a voyage to 
this country to obtain funds, he wrote to the other Bishops, who 
are ten in number, for their countenance. In a pamphlet which 
I have seen, and which I am informed was published by him in 
America, and which he circulates here, he inserts letters from 
three Bishops, one who was consecrated in May last, approving 
the plan in pretty strong terms, another more equivocally, and a 
third with still more hesitation and caution : and this last, it ap- 
pears from a printed document which I have seen, on further con- 
sideration, withdrew his approbation. It would seem that these 
Bishops wrote without having had an opportunity of consulting 
their brethren. And that four Bishops, at the head of whom is 
Bishop White, their venerable presiding Bishop, who interchanged 
sentiments, expressed their opinions against the measure. These 
sentiments are contained in a letter addressed to Bishop Chase, by 
Bishop White, which, as well as a former letter from him, I con- 
fess I am surprised Bishop Chase has not published in his pam- 
phlet containing his answer to this letter, and also the letters of 
some other Bishops. This letter from Bishop White, which, with 
other documents, are contained in the British Critic for November 
last, I have read with attention ; and I own it has very great weight 
with me, not only on account of what appears the strength of its 
statements, but of the great respectability of the writer, who is, as 
I have already mentioned, one of the fathers of the American 
Episcopacy, and who has always taken an active and most influ- 
ential part in the counsels of the Church. I have seen extracts 
from two periodical publications in America, expressing favour- 
able views of this plan of Bishop Chase; but I cannot think these 
which maybe the sentiments of the Editors merely, are to be con- 
sidered as evidence of the sense of the American Church, parti- 
cularly in opposition to the decided opinions of the Bishops and 
the resolutions of the Standing Committee of the Trustees of the 
General Theological Seminary, and the General Missionary So- 
ciety, which are published. ' 

Admitting then the force of the representations of the wants of 
the Church in Ohio, and elsewhere to the westward, the difficulty 
with me as to supporting Bishop Chase in his plan is, that it would 
seem he has not gone to work in the regular, constitutional, orderly 
way. He has not made a formal application to the authorities con 
stituted by that Church, of which he is a member, to provide the 
means of theological education in his Diocese: and to suppose 
that if the wants be really so pressing as they are represented- 
and if the General Seminary does not possess the means of sup- 
plying them, as far as they can be supplied, the Trustees of this 
seminary, and the Bishops, and the Clerical and Lay Deputies of 
the General Convention, would refuse to sanction any judicious 
measure, which promised relief to a destitute and suffering Dio- 
££se, would indeed suppose them insensible and faithless to those 



70 

high interests of which they are the awfully responsible guar- 
dians. 

It is easy also to see, in this plan, the beginning of troubles. 
The Western States I do not find have constituted Ohio their 
representative. And it is hardly to be supposed that they will 
be satisfied with an institution exclusively under the control of that 
Diocese. Hence, there will arise numerous theological schools, 
imperfect in their arrangements, feeble in their character and 
means, various, and perhaps, adverse in their principles ; devoted 
to sectional views, and laying undue stress on subordinate matters; 
instead of those well endowed and well ordered establishments, 
which, sanctioned, and guarded, and cherished, by the general au- 
thority of the Church at large, will bear her elevated character, 
and shine forth with her bright evangelical purity and lustre. 

It does not appear to me that any sanction can be drawn in 
favour of the Ohio Diocesan School, from the state of things in 
this country. The Church of England has not legislated, as the 
Church in America has done, on the subject of theological edu- 
cation — has not founded one General Theological School, with 
provision for Branch Schools^ when necessary, in any particular 
Diocese. But supposing that the Church of England had thus 
legislated, by her constituted authorities, and was engaged, as the 
Church in America is engaged, in a vigorous effort for a General 
Theological School, to branch out, as those constituted authorities 
might direct, into subordinate schools ; it is not to be presumed 
that any English Bishop would disregard these provisions, and 
attempt independent diocesan establishments. Or, to take other 
analogies. Our British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Church 
Missionary Society, have settled the principles, and the mode 
by which Auxiliary Societies are to be constituted. What should 
we think of any Auxiliary Society who should determine to dis- 
regard these, and to regulate matters entirely in its own way? 

I confess, wishing well to the American Episcopal Church, I 
am much concerned about this business. I see, in the measure 
contemplated, the beginning of disunion. The Church of England 
is held together by the law of the land. Her authority, and her 
unity, and her order, are secured by the power of the kingdom, 
and vitally connected with its civil constitution. But the Episcopal 
Church in America, though united under an ecclesiastical consti- 
tution, rests as a security for her unity, solely r on the voluntary 
respect and obedience of her members. If then, in any case where 
the General Convention of her Bishops, Clergy, and Laity,, have, 
with great unanimity, established a plan of theological education, 
providing for the wants of every part of the Church, a disposition 
be discovered, particularly in any of her highest officers, to depart 
from it, a precedent will be set, which will be most injurious to 
her stability and her unity. For local views, and local plans, will 
thus prevail, instead of those general measures, by which the wis- 
dom of her united counsels sought to advance her general pros- 
perity ; and thus becoming distracted, by varying, and, perhaps, 
opposite views and interests, in losing her unity, she will lose her 
strength, h v er dignity, and her purity. 



71 

I say nothing of the plan of the proposed Theological Seminary, 
as set forth in a letter from a Clergyman, who was an agent of the 
General Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, constituted 
for the very purpose of supplying the Western States with Mis- 
sionaries. And it is not a little remarkable, that the Directors or 
Managers of this Society, consisting of the Bishops, and Clergy, 
and Laity, from different Dioceses, appointed by the General Con- 
vention, who employed this Clergyman, have, by a resolution which 
is published, disapproved of the application of Bishop Chase to 
this country. The plan of the school appears rather a novel and 
superficial one. The General Theological Seminary takes young 
men designed for orders, after they have graduated, or have passed 
through a course of study equivalent to a collegiate course ; and 
then confines them to studies, strictly theological, for three years. 
In the proposed Ohio school, after a mere English education, only 
four years are to be devoted to classical, general, and theological 
studies 1 — and this in union with cultivating a farm ! Will it be for 
the honour and ultimate influence of evangelical truth, to send forth 
a Clergy so inadequately qualified to defend it, and so far inferior 
to those educated in other institutions? It is, I believe, a mistake, 
to suppose that the population of the Western States are without 
intelligence, or would put up long with crude declamatory preach- 
ing. I am credibly informed, that among them are persons of the 
first education and respectability ; and I perceive, from an Ameri- 
can geography, that there are many colleges and literary institu- 
tions in that country. Nov/, who would be more likely, perma- 
nently, to advance among them the cause Of evangelical religion I 
A Clergy, educated at a local school, who, during the short period 
of their course of study, divided their time between their studies 
and agricultural pursuits, and had no opportunity of rubbing off 
those local habits, and views, and manners, which so much obstruct 
the influence even of talents and of worth — or those who, at the 
General Seminary, have laid deep and broad the foundations of 
theological learning; and by proper intercourse with society, have 
acquired that knowledge of human nature, and those cultivated 
manners, which, while they will never prevent the truly pious mi- 
nister from adapting himself to the lowest, will fit him for com- 
manding the respect of the highest, orders of society. And how 
much will the ultimate and permanent purity and prosperity of the 
American Episcopal Church, in these new regions, depend on the 
character which she establishes, and the influence which she ob- 
tains, by the Clergy who first appear as her pioneers and heralds* 
Of all this, however, the American Church is the best judge : 
and, therefore, I say, that as she has made provision for branch 
schools, under her authority, any Diocese which wants them ought 
to have recourse to that authority. 

With a view to the inquiry how the Episcopalians in Ohio, and 
the other Western States, are to be supplied with Clergymen, it 
has occurred to me to endeavour to ascertain what is the policy in 
this respect of the Presbyterians, who, I understand, are far more 
numerous than the Episcopalians in the United States. It seems 



72 

that they rely for Missionaries and for Clergymen for the United 
Slates, on their General Theological Schools, which are situated 
near the sea-coast. The Presbyterian Church, in the Middle arid' 
Southern States, have established a General Theological School 
at Princeton, near to the cities of New-York and Philadelphia, 
where young men, from all parts of the Union, pursue their theo- 
logical studies. The Presbyterians, or more properly, the Congre- 
gationalists of New-England, who are a distinct body, have a theo- 
logical school at Andover, in the old settled State of Massachu- 
setts, very liberally endowed, which annually sends forth Mission- 
aries, not only to the Western States, but to the South Seas, and 
to Asia. I do not see why the General Theological Seminary of 
the Episcopal Church may not answer the same purpose. It was 
established for this purpose. Measures I find are taking, under 
the authority of the General Convention, to raise funds for the 
support of pious young men designed for the ministry, and to re- 
duce the expenses of education, with a view to the accommodation 
of students from a distance. The institution is still in its infancy. 
It appears from the Journals of the General Convention of the 
Church, at their meeting in May last, that it is exceedingly 
cramped in its operations for the want of funds ; and they earnestly 
press all the members of the Church to unite with zeal and libe- 
rality in supporting it. It would seem, that, if, in this state of 
things, a plan for a local diocesan seminary, independent of the ge- 
neral constitution, should succeed ; that the much hoped-for union 
and effort in favour of the General Seminary will not be obtained, 
and the exertions in its behalf will be arrested. Other Dioceses 
will think they ought to have their local schools, and for these, 
they will reserve their funds ; and thus the plan of general theo- 
logical education, which, after many years of deliberation and of 
experiment, the Bishops, and the deputies of the Clergy and 
Laity, in General Convention, authoritatively established, will be 
defeated. 

I was much struck with the wisdom of a remark in the Chris- 
tian Observer, on the concerns of the American Church ; which 
in substance is, that we are at too great a distance to judge of the 
local bearings of questions and measures relative to that Church. 
The course, then, of the friends of the American Church, in this 
country, would appear to be a plain one. We may reverence and 
admire the zeal which dictates any plan, which has for its object, 
the extension of a Church, which may be considered as a branch of 
our own. But our support should not be given to a plan, of the 
good effect of which, on the general interests of the American 
Episcopal Church, we may have reason to hesitate. And such 
must be a plan to which there is grave and respectable opposition 
in that Church. And it seems to me that we have so much of po- 
sitive good to be effected by our own societies, that we need not be 
at a loss for channels, through which to circulate our bounty. To 
any application for the purposes of local theological education, our 
answer may safely be — your Church has provided a plan of a Ge- 
neral Seminary, which admits of branch schools in any Diocese, 



73 

find has fixed a mode by which they are to be obtained. Have re- 
course to this mode. Apply to the General Convention of your 
own Church. There surely can be no doubt, that a body con- 
stituted as that is, is the best, as it is the legitimate, judge of the 
propriety and expediency of the measure which you desire. And 
when it is thus sanctioned, we shall be safe in patronizing it. 

It appears plain to me, that unless this course be pursued, we 
shall have applications without number of a local nature, all with 
plausible claims ; and yet to which there may be serious objections 
in reference to the general interests of the American Church. 
And thus, with the pious and laudable aim of promoting its ex- 
tension and efficiency, we may disunite and weaken it. The friends 
of that Church should therefore say to its members — Agree 
amongst yourselves — Bring forward some object which unites 
your own counsels and efforts, and then we may safely aid you in 
it. Otherwise, with the best wishes for your prosperity, which is 
inseparably connected with your union, we may be encouraging 
measures which will sow the seeds of dissension, that will start up 
and bring forth their deleterious fruits to the latest generations. 
I am, my dear Sir, 

Your friend, &c. 

********* 

London, January 30, 1824. 



POSTSCRIPT. 

No, in. 

After the sheet containing the 27th page of the preceding Let-' 
ter was printed, the author recollected, that on the 8th page of the 
Declaration and Protest, the fact is incidentally noticed, that under 
the new constitution of the Seminary, the several Dioceses are 
represented in the Board of Trustees in proportion to their re- 
spective numbers of Clergymen, and amounts of contribution. 
Of this he was not aware when he stated that the authors of the 
Declaration, 8cc. did not give u one word of explanation" of the 
different circumstances of the Seminary which justified Bishop 
Hobart's change of views with regard to it. This notice, how- 
ever, is so merely incidental, and so entirely excluded from any 
effect in the use made of Bishop Hobart's change, and the conclu- 
sions drawn from it, that it diminishes nothing from the force and 
applicability of what is said on the subject in the Letter. A sense 
of justice, however, demanded this explanation. 



ERRATA. 
Page 15, line 3, for " your" read our. 

16, line 24, for "Secretary" read Seminary. 
33, line 9, for " yon" read you. 
37, line 25, for "informing" read forming, 
10 

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